Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation, Minor basilica and cathedral in Ambato, Ecuador

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Elevation stands between Bolívar and Montalvo streets facing Juan Montalvo Park in central Ambato. The present church was inaugurated in 1954, built by the Sicilian architect Antonino Russo to replace a structure damaged by the 1949 earthquake. It is the seat of the Diocese of Ambato, created in 1948 by Pope Pius XII, and has been a minor basilica since April 1961.

The original building was damaged by a powerful earthquake in 1949, which led to the construction of a new church. The current structure was inaugurated in 1954 and symbolizes the city's recovery and rebuilding after this disaster.

The cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Ambato, created in 1948 by Pope Pius XII through the bull Quae ad maius, and it has held the rank of Minor Basilica since April 1961. Its dedication to Our Lady of the Elevation is recalled in the name Nuestra Señora de la Elevación, used in the official Spanish title. Bishop Jorge Giovanny Pazmiño Abril has been responsible for its pastoral care since 2015.

The building is centrally located at Juan Montalvo Park and is easily accessible on foot from other city attractions. Visitors should dress appropriately and follow standard etiquette for religious sites, especially during scheduled services.

The building integrates neo-Gothic lines with modern design approaches, an unusual feature for a religious structure built in the 1950s in South America. This blend of two different architectural styles emerged from a desire to combine tradition with new architectural ideas.