Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador, capital of the Azuay province. It is located in the Sierra, the highlands of Ecuador at about 2500m (8200 ft) above sea level. Its full name is Santa Ana de los cuatro rios de Cuenca. It was founded in 1557 by the Spanish explorer Gil Ramírez Dávalos. The foundation of the city was commissioned by Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza, at that time ruler of the Viceroyalty of Peru, who was a native of Cuenca, Spain. Edit this section or read more