Let’s explore the surreal castles of Quito

For more than 80 years, this Andean capital has been guarded by a strange array of kitschy castles – brimming with turrets and towers, spires and faux drawbridges, Moorish cupolas and sweeping staircases. In a city internationally renowned for its colonial architecture (its historic centre has been a United Nations World Heritage Site since 1978) the castillos de Quito in Ecuador have often been dismissed as architectural oddities and mid-century eyesores. Quito, Ecuador is home to world-class Colonial architecture. And fans of some buildings built in the 1930s and 1940s say they are being overshadowed by the city’s rich history. Despite being protected by the city, some have been...