Metropolitan Cathedral

Guayaquil's Metropolitan Cathedral — officially the Cathedral of Saint Peter — faces Parque Semánario (Parque Bolívar) in the heart of the city. The current building was constructed in the early 20th century in a neo-Gothic style, with twin towers visible from much of the surrounding neighbourhood. The interior is relatively spare but has stained glass that casts attractive light in the morning.

The cathedral is still in active use and masses are held daily. Visitors are welcome outside service hours. The combination of the cathedral, the adjacent park with its iguanas, and the old municipal buildings makes this block the most historically layered in Guayaquil.

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A story
The current cathedral is the sixth church to stand on or near this site since the Spanish founded Guayaquil in 1538. The previous five were all destroyed by fire — an occupational hazard for colonial coastal cities built almost entirely of wood. The first stone cathedral was begun in the early 20th century using materials that might actually survive a blaze.