Cuenca, Ecuador Galleries
[ Miscellaneous |
The Streets |
The Churches |
Catedral Calderón |
The People |
The Balconies & Windows |
The Roofs |
The Apartment ]
| The centerpiece of all of Cuenca is Catedral Calderón, located in Parque Calderón, in the absolute heart of the city. It is an enormous structure, taking up half of an entire city block. Made of pink marble, and adorned with three blue and white domes running down its spine, it is an awe-inspiring piece of architecture just to lay eyes on. In 1985, Pope John Paul made a visit here, and his visit is memorialized on a humble plaque on the outer walls near the front door. | |
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Before we get ahead of ourselves, it needs to be understood that this giant, imposing edifice is actually a replacement for the old one, seen here on the left. The domed building on the right is the town hall. |
Another view of la catedral vieja, with the new cathedral in the distance. The old cathedral is currently undergoing renovations, I believe with plans to become a museum. This photo also gives you an idea of how gigantic the cathedral is depthwise. |
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Parque Calderón was recently renovated and cleaned up, as Cuenca was becoming a more and more popular destination to visit, for both tourists and national citizens alike. Flowers and shrubbery were planted, decorative fences and benches were put in, and the sidewalks were retiled, making it undoubtedly the most pleasant area in town. This congregation of flagpoles usually stands empty, except on special occasions. |
| An excellent view of the two towers behind a clear blue morning sky. The belltowers were actually intended to be larger than they are, but due to some architectural miscalculations during the design process, it was later discovered that they would be too heavy for the structure to support. So this is how they are left to stand, forever incomplete. |  |
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Parque Calderón itself takes up one square city block, and bustles with life all day long. There are photographers who take photos of children on toy horses and goats, young and old men shining shoes, pedestrians passing through, people reading, families eating ice cream, a mime imitating passersby, street musicians, and more. On Sundays, numerous bands play live music in the gazebo seen on the right, drawing large crowds after church. |
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 next catedral calderón gallery |
Cuenca, Ecuador Galleries
[ Miscellaneous |
The Streets |
The Churches |
Catedral Calderón |
The People |
The Balconies & Windows |
The Roofs |
The Apartment ]
