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In Ambato there are two beautiful Quintas that belonged to the Illustrious families of Los Mera and Los Martínez. Both conserve intact the naturalistic vocation of its creators, Juan León Mera and Luís A. Martínez and constitute one of the most important botanical reserves in the country.

Today these properties belong to the Illustrious Municipality of Ambato, which has made the decision to protect and optimize them for their unique ethno-botanical and historical characteristics and for their important work as the lung of the city.

Opening date

The Municipality of Ambato is working to inaugurate the Atocha - Liria Botanical Garden. The Atocha-La Liria Botanical Garden was built since 1849.





Direction

The Botanical Garden is located on Av. Circunvalación. Atocha





Description

In this place and as a tribute to its illustrious managers, the Atocha - La Liria Botanical Garden is being implemented, which will highlight the wide biodiversity of this sector of the country, made up of several endemic species that were studied by the great researcher Luís A. Martínez. and other historical



first eucalyptus trees cultivated in our country by Juan León Mera.

It is the only unbeatable attraction, a botanical garden combined with two beautiful Quintas of the Los Mera and Los Martínez families, treasure a natural environment. Juan León Mera and Luís A. Martínez make up one of the most important botanical reserves in the country. Despite the urban increase, the properties of the families have remained in their area of ​​approximately 14 hectares.

Attractive

• The Gardens of Mera and Martínez, constitute the habitat of more than 200 species of higher plants, which according to scientific nomenclature can be grouped into 151 genera and 79 botanical families.

• Juan León Mera Historical Museum: With a typical Spanish style, the construction dates back to 1874, the date on which the family decided to move from the city to this beautiful place. With an area of ​​5 hectares, declared a National Historical Heritage, the property has the attractiveness of not



only the architectural structure and its history but also a natural environment that constitutes an ideal space to be in direct contact with nature, history, culture and the identity of the Ambateño people.

Martínez Holguín Historical Museum: In 2001 the historical decision was made by Architect Fernando Callejas Barona - Mayor of Ambato - to recover the Martínez Holguín Family House, an important Cultural Heritage that is part of the Quinta La Liria where The Atocha La Liria Botanical Garden is located; It also includes the Quinta Atocha of Juan León Mera, which also has a historical and botanical wealth as important as that of the Martínez.

The house of Quinta La Liria has been restored and the Martínez-Holguín Historical Museum has been formed there.

History

La Quinta La Liria began with the purchase of a plot of land by Dr. Nicolás Martínez Vásconez from Mr. Francisco López in 1849. In the lot there were already some minor buildings. The year in which the construction of the main house began is not precisely known, but a letter addressed to the then President of the Republic, García Moreno, certifies that it was completed in 1865 and a party was held at the inauguration.

Dr. Martínez, despite the many public positions he held, kept the improvement of the farm (land and buildings) as the center of his activity. The "BOTANICAL GARDEN" that surrounds the house aroused his greatest interest.

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