Francisco de Orellana

This bust of Francisco de Orellana sits outside the Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor. He was born in 1511, and at the age of 17 went to the Americas with Hernán Cortés and helped in the conquest of Mexico. He participated in the conquest of Peru and the taking of the city of Puerto Viejo (Quito) with his relative Francisco Pizarro. In a fight with the natives at Quito he lost an eye. In 1537 he reestablished the city of Santiago de Guayaquil, which had been destroyed by the natives. In 1538 he faught alongside Pizarro in the battle of Salinas against Almagro.