Antonio Lloret Bastidas documents the cultural history of Cuenca

Antonio Lloret Bastidas, a prominent Ecuadorian writer and educator, compiled a multi-volume literary work titled Cuencanerías to preserve the history and traditions of Cuenca.

Bastidas documented the city's evolution from its founding and the lives of its early inhabitants to its transition into modernity. He focused on the social fabric of the Azuay region, including the history of the first local newspaper and the lives of prominent historical figures.

Bastidas spent much of his life as a teacher, journalist, and chronicler. He worked in the national education system for 40 years and served as the life chronicler of Cuenca, a position he held starting in 1998. He used his personal library and his role at the municipal office to gather stories, poems, and historical records about the local community.

His writing reflects his belief that while the city modernized after 1920, the underlying spirit of the people remains a defining characteristic. The author’s bibliography includes numerous works on poetry, history, and period journalism. His family recently presented the work Ensayos para la Memoria to honor his legacy during the bicentenary of Cuenca.

Bastidas, who was born in 1920 and died in 2000, remains a central figure in the cultural identity of the region through his efforts to record the roots of his homeland.