Ambato's inhabitants are called Ambateños or Guaytambos (after a type of native peach that the valley is famous for producing).

The group raised an army (known as the Junta de Guayaquil), and began to move against Spanish forces in Quito.

Urdaneta's army met the Royalists, led by Colonel Francisco Gonzaelz at the First Battle of Huachi just outside Ambato on November 22, 1820, and were soundly defeated.

[6] A year later, the reformed patriots, under Antonio José de Sucre, left their position in Babahoyo to retake the highlands.

Aymerich's forces defeated Sucre in the same plains that now form the neighborhood of Huachi, just southeast of downtown Ambato.

[citation needed] In 1822, the tide began to turn for Ambato and the rest of the towns in the central mountains.

They had also had some luck; in 1821, the Spanish monarch, Fernando VII had sent his own commander, General Mourgeon to lead the royalist defense in Quito.

At the same time, Sucre was marching his army south to Macará to meet up with Peruvian forces sent by General José de San Martín.

Several times, Ambato served as the setting for rewriting of constitutions and continued to produce excellent artists and thinkers like Montalvo and Mera.

Much of the city's colonial center was completely ruined, including the cathedral that many considered on par with Cuenca's Iglesia de El Sagrario.

[8] Ambato lies in the main valley of the Central Cordillera, the highest of the Andean mountain ranges.

From Ambato, it is possible to see many snow-capped volcanoes including Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Carihuairazo, and the largest mountain in Ecuador, Chimborazo.

Other areas of economic development include textiles, glass fabrication, foodstuffs, and shoes.As a transportation hub, Ambato also depends on small tourist sector.

The Monday market also brings tourists and locals alike as the streets fill with food and clothing vendors.

Many consider Ambato to be a quintessential 21st-century Ecuadorian city: proud of its history, but eager to emerge as a leader in industry and technology.

The Festival of Fruits and Flowers is held every year in Ambato to commemorate the anniversary of the earthquake that destroyed the city on August 5, 1949, where 6000 people died.

The rich volcanic soil of the area are home to a large number of farms and a great diversity of agricultural products.

Named after the Ambato-born writer, Juan Montalvo, the park was built in 1905 and has served as a social gathering spot for the people of Ambato since.

Famous for its gardens, which are supposed to contain over 257 species of flowers, the house also posts well-maintained colonial furniture and paintings.

In August 2010, Mayor Barona announced that those plans had not received sufficient public support and appeared to be dead.

In addition to walking paths, there are open fields, basketball and volley courts, as well as a large garden features an impressive amount of native species.

[19] On clear days, the park also affords the visitor excellent views of the city of Ambato and the constantly smoking Tungurahua volcano.

One of the most affluent sections in the city, the neighborhood of Ficoa lines the north bank of the Ambato River across from Miraflores.

The trees of Ficoa are famous for their production of succulent fruits, including peaches, pears, and a local variety of citrus.

Perhaps the oldest of Ambato's neighborhoods, Atocha is famous for being the home to the Quinta Juan León Mera and thus, being an important part of Ambateño and Ecuadorian culture.

As an important transportation hub, Ambato is connected with other cities through Ecuador's widely used bus system.

The city's main bus terminal is located in the Ingahurco neighborhood, which lies on the north side of downtown.

Some of the most well-known high schools in Ambato include: Ambateños enjoy a variety of sports, but none so much as soccer.

Ecuavolley is popular in Ambato and the surrounding regions, where it is played both on formal courts in city parks as well as on the side streets of barrios.

These games are usually hosted in the Coliseo Cerrado de Deportes, the large coliseum across the street from Estadio Bellavista.