Un aura de romance y grandeza
de dias pasados….
Hacienda history in the past: Haciendas in most cases were founded by Spanish conquistador elites in return for services to the Spanish crown. Settlers received large gifts of land from the Spanish, and managed expansive farms.
Where does the word Hacienda come from? The word is derived from the Spanish verb “hacer” or “haciendo”, which means ‘to make or making’, and were largely business enterprises consisting of various money making ventures including agriculture, raising farm animals, and maintaining orchards. In Ecuador, land grants were largely in the sierras – the beautiful, mountainous highlands that are blessed with rich volcanic soil for agriculture.
In South America, the haciendas remained even after the collapse of the colonial system in the early 19th century when nations gained independence. Over time, these hacienda estates became self-sufficient communities and were built to a very large scale, borrowing architectural influences from Spain, with the end result being glorious historic homes in spectacular rural settings.
The hacienda system was officially dismantled in Ecuador in 1964 as a result of the Agrarian Reform Policy. Most haciendas nowadays are reduced to a much smaller area of land around the historical house, after centuries of land reform and selling of land parcels to neighboring farmers.
Some of Ecuador’s haciendas have remained in the same families for centuries; but since they no longer operate with the labor on which they were founded, many have opened their doors as elegant hotels or resorts maintaining their original architecture, gardens, and old world ambiance.
Ecuador is home to a number of beautiful traditional haciendas which have opened their historic doors to the public and now offer a gorgeously unique place to stay.
Hacienda Santa Rosa de Cuendina (Abandoned)
Cuendina, Ecuador I must admit, sometimes I enjoy abandoned haciendas even more than the restored haciendas you can actually stay in. I know I am not alone in this. There have even been books written on this subject such as “The Pleasure of Ruins” by Rose Macaulay. Renaissance painters romanticized Greek ruins, because ruins are…
Hacienda La Compania
Cayambe Ecuador HACIENDAS IN ECUADOR: HACIENDA LA COMPANIA. La Compañía was one of the oldest haciendas of the region. Part of its land had been given in 1584 to Bartolome Ruiz. It was sold to the Jesuits who started to plant wheat , barley, and corn. The chapel and barn were built in 1605. The…
Hacienda Chorlavi
Ibarra, Ecuador Hacienda Chorlavi in Ibarra, was one of the first properties acquired by the Jesuits in the region, in 1620. Many haciendas in Ecuador can boast that their history dates back to the Spanish conquest or at least to the 17th century. But few can say that they are the first to have developed…
Casa de Hacienda de Su Merced
Puembo, Ecuador A 16th century hacienda farmhouse, with more than 400 years of history. Located in Puembo, which is in the valley of Tumbaco, not far from the Quito Airport. Walls painted by Ecuadorian artists. The gate to the property… The best “chocolate helado casero” homemade chocolate ice cream – EVER!! Lovely gardens to wander…
Molino San Juan Hacienda
Cayambe, Ecuador Molino San Juan Hacienda, in Cayambe, is built within the property that was called Hacienda la Compañía and is owned by descendants (eighth generation) of the Jarrin family who are the owners of what was the Hacienda la Compañía. The lodging at San Juan Molino Hacienda is built in the converted barn of…
Hacienda Zuleta
Zuleta, Imbabura Province, Ecuador Dating from the late 16th century, Hacienda Zuleta is a colonial working farm of 4,000 acres that has belonged to the family of Mr. Galo Plaza Lasso, a former president of Eucador, for more than 100 years. It was chosen as one of the world’s “Top Ten Finds” by Outside Magazine…
Hacienda San Isidro De Iltaqui
Hacienda San Isidro de Iltaqui is located way up in the highlands outside of Cotacachi. It is a 200 year old family hacienda. Its history is marked by cultural and political milestones of vital importance to the country, one of them being the remains found in the property belonging to the indigenous settlements that inhabited…
Hacienda Guachalá
Cayambe, Ecuador Hacienda Guachalá in Cayambe is the oldest hacienda in Ecuador (1500’s). In it’s heyday it had 12, 000 hectares. (30,000 acres) The Chapel was the first structure built on the Hacienda in 1580. In 1922 as a result of the socialist revolution in Ecuador, the chapel was cleared out of all religious icons…
Hacienda Piman
Ibarra Ecuador The Piman Hacienda has been owned by the Zaldumbide family since 1680. The lush gardens were designed by a French landscape artist in the 19thy century. Piman features colonial era buildings, furniture and architecture, along with some very stylish more modern villas, and a gourmet restaurant. It is one of the oldest tradional…
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Haciendas In Ecuador 