Battle of Pichincha Day in Ecuador
May 24 · Level 9 · #255 of 2238
Ecuador commemorates the 1822 victory of Antonio José de Sucre's forces over Spanish royalist troops. The Battle of Pichincha secured the liberation of Quito and became a major milestone in the country's struggle for independence.
How it is celebrated: military ceremonies and wreath-laying honour those who fought in the independence campaigns. Schools and museums explore the battle and its place in Ecuador's history.
The battlefield lay on the slopes of Pichincha volcano above Quito, more than three thousand metres above sea level. The troops faced steep terrain and thin mountain air as well as their opponents.