Palacio de Cristal de Guayaquil, Historic convention center in Malecón 2000, Ecuador
The Palacio de Cristal is a large building on the banks of the Guayas River featuring steel beams and glass panels that create an open appearance. Inside are roughly two dozen shops selling Ecuadorian handcrafts, along with a spacious plaza displaying flags representing different regions.
The building was conceived as a marketplace in the early 1900s, with iron components shipped from Europe to South America for assembly. The original iron framework was later combined with modern glass elements to update the structure while keeping the base intact.
The name reflects a city's vision of modernization, and it draws visitors who come to watch local artisans and regional artists at work today. It remains a gathering spot where locals and travelers meet to purchase handcrafted items and experience cultural events.
The site sits in the central area of the city with good accessibility and spacious rooms for ease of movement. It is a place where you can walk around comfortably to explore craft stalls and discover the various offerings throughout the day.
The iron beams were specially transported from Belgium by ship to Ecuador, giving the city a European connection in the early 1900s. This international origin makes the building a rare blend of European heritage and South American context.
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