Reflections about the sense of cultural heritage. Case of Cuenca, Ecuador

On the occasion of the second century of the independence of the city of Cuenca, this contribution aims to reflect on the dynamic process of becoming a World Heritage Site, and some of the key actors involved in that recognition process. In chronological order, the first section describes the socio-cultural and physical environment at the national and local scale in the 18th and 19th century, based on relevant descriptions written by foreign visitors. The second section identifies some events, considered as milestones in the transition of Cuenca from a colonial city towards a modern city, emphasizing the global debate between transformation and conservation during the 20th century. The third section refers to the key actors in the valorization of Cuenca as heritage, initially as national heritage (1982) and later as World Heritage Site (1999). It concludes highlighting the “mestizaje” as an essential aspect of its outstanding universal values.