Legend of

Cantuna

On the Costa, Sierra, Oriente and the Insular region of Ecuador, traditions, legends and culture are what characterize and fill each
region with life. An Ecuadorian legend that is very popular and is part of our culture, identity and tradition, is the legend of Quito that
tells of the audacity of the character who outwits the devil.

This interesting story of Cantuña is widely spread and is born in the Historic Center of Quito, and is also known as the legend of
the atrium of San Francisco.

In past centuries, only indigenous people attended there, but it was not known as the Cantuña chapel, but as the Vera Cruz
Chapel.

The story is based on Francisco Cantuña, he was a blacksmith who in 1766 donated money to restore the Chapel of Vera Cruz.

He had bought a space to be buried there, something that only those with a lot of money did.

It is said that the legend could have been created from this, because at that time (18th century) it

was not common for an indigenous person to have a lot of money