Cathedral of Iquitos, Gothic Revival cathedral in Iquitos, Peru.
The Cathedral of Iquitos is a Gothic Revival church at the corner of Arica and Putumayo streets, facing the Plaza de Armas in the heart of the city. Its facade features pointed arches, slender towers, and vertical decorative stonework typical of that architectural style.
An earlier church stood on this site until 1911, when it was torn down to make way for the current building. The main structure was finished by 1919, and the tower was added afterward, giving the cathedral its present form.
The cathedral faces the Plaza de Armas, the central square where daily life in Iquitos unfolds around benches, vendors, and families. Sunday masses draw people from across the surrounding Amazon communities, making it a gathering point well beyond the city itself.
The cathedral is easy to find, as it sits right on the Plaza de Armas in the center of Iquitos, within walking distance of most downtown hotels. Visiting in the morning gives you the best light inside the nave and avoids the busiest hours.
Beneath the cathedral there is a crypt that most visitors never see, as it is rarely accessible during a regular visit. Its existence surprises many, since underground spaces are unusual in a tropical river city built largely on soft, flood-prone ground.
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