Cuenca (full name Santa Ana de los cuatro ríos de Cuenca), is Ecuador's third-largest city and is located in the sierra, the highlands of Ecuador. It has been called the most charming city in Ecuador. It has an Old World, Spanish colonial feel—flower boxes on the windows, wrought-iron balconies, red-tile roofs, cobblestone streets and a lively market. It's also a center for arts and crafts—many of the goods sold in Quito and Guayaquil come from this area. Its colonial past from the days of the Spanish Empire is ever-present in the artistry of its churches and convents.