Guayaquil’s first cathedral was in the Las Peñas neighborhood. The wooden structure was built in the mid-16th century, burned in 1692 and reconstructed with concrete in the 20th century. Plans to replace it at Seminario Park began with the hiring of architect Paolo Russo in 1924. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Peter was not finished until 1956. Above the tympanum of the Roman Catholic church is a rose window filled with intricate pieces of stained glass. Not shown are two impressive bell towers crowning this architectural gem of Guayaquil.
