The Spanish founded the pretty colonial city of Cuenca in 1557. Despite being Ecuador's third largest city, it is quaint and colonial, and a favourite for photographers, with its cobblestone streets and 16th Century buildings in the old centre. It is a good place to spend a few days relaxing in the grand atmosphere. There are a number of museums and churches to see, and plazas, markets and cathedrals that can be visited during a leisurely ramble of the city. Nearby are the country's only major Inca ruins, the fortress of Ingapirca.