Iglesia de La Balbanera

The church displays thick adobe walls painted white, wooden beams made of capuli wood, and a double-arched entrance resting on four Corinthian-style columns.

The church, inaugurated on August 15, 1534, by Sebastian de Benalcazar, stands as the first Catholic temple constructed in Ecuador during the Spanish colonial period.

The facade combines Spanish Baroque architecture with indigenous elements, incorporating local ceramic vessel shapes and traditional shigra bag designs into its stone carvings.

The church accommodates 225 people on 45 benches and holds Sunday Mass services at 9:30 am, 12 pm, and 4 pm, welcoming visitors throughout the week.

The structure survived the devastating 1797 earthquake that destroyed nearby Riobamba, with local residents stating that 90 percent of the original building remains intact.

Location: Chimborazo Province

Official opening: August 15, 1534

GPS coordinates: -1.72360,-78.76253

Latest update: March 11, 2025 13:41