Showing 1-6 of 6 results
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Basilica
Parque La Libertad (Primera Constituyente at Alvarado) is anchored by its neoclassical basilica, famous for being the only round church in Ecuador. It was designed, built and decorated mainly by locals, making it a great source of civic pride. It's often closed; try Sundays and evenings after .
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Museo de Arte Religioso
Inside the beautifully restored Monasterio de las Conceptas, Riobamba's Museo de Arte Religioso houses one of the country's finest collections of 17th- and 18th-century religious art. The museum's signature piece is a priceless, meter-tall monstrance inlaid with more than 1500 precious stones, including emeralds, pearls, diamonds, rubies amethysts and aquamarines. Made of solid gold with a solid silver base, it weighs over 360kg (making it incredibly difficult to steal). Within the monstrance are three inlaid glass hearts, each containing - according to the caretakers - blood of the three craftsmen who made it. Look closely. Thirteen other rooms display paintings and sculptures of saints and sinners, with all the blood and morbidity typical of Ecuador's religious art.
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Museo de la Ciudad
If you're just trying to kill some time, pop into the Museo de la Ciudad. Opened in 2004, it occupies a beautifully restored building from 1910, once inhabited by a woman who was both Riobamba's best hair stylist and possessed by the devil. Slightly less interesting than its previous inhabitant, the museum's exhibits include a permanent national park display, historical photos of Riobamba and temporary visual-art exhibits on the 2nd floor.
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Parque 21 de Abril
Just north of downtown, the Parque 21 de Abril has an observation platform with excellent views of the surrounding mountains.
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Parque La Libertad
A few blocks southeast of Parque Maldonado (Primera Constituyente at Espejo), Parque La Libertad is anchored by its neoclassical basilica (Veloz near Alvarado), famous for being the only round church in Ecuador.
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Parque Maldonado
The handsome, tree-filled Parque Maldonado is flanked by Riobamba's cathedral on the northeastern side.
Showing 1-6 of 6 results
