Iglesia de El Sagrario, Renaissance Catholic church in Historic Center, Ecuador.
Iglesia de El Sagrario is a Renaissance church standing beside the Metropolitan Cathedral on García Moreno Street, with a rectangular layout and arched ceiling that defines its interior space. The church features wooden carvings and painted domes that create a layered interior with different visual focal points throughout the main worship area.
Construction began in 1617 under the Confraternity of the Sagrado Sacramento and took nearly a century to reach completion in 1715 through multiple building phases. During this extended period, artistic elements were added progressively, shaping the final appearance of the church.
The name El Sagrario refers to the sacred blessing and safekeeping of the Holy Eucharist, giving the church deep religious meaning. This role continues to shape the interior space today, where worshippers come to venerate the sacrament.
The church sits along a main street in the Historic Center and is easily reached on foot, especially when combining a visit with nearby religious buildings like La Compañía de Jesús. Visitors should note that interior lighting varies, and details in higher areas can be easy to miss without looking upward.
The church was built over an old ravine called Zanguña, forcing colonial architects to devise creative solutions to keep the foundation stable. This hidden geological challenge remains buried beneath the surface today but is visible in the solid structures supporting the entire building.
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