Culture of Guayaquil. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Guayaquil is a large port city attracting tourists with an abundance of historical landmarks and picturesque colonial quarters. Las Penas is the most popular quarter among vacationers. It has managed to preserve many beautiful architectural structures dating back to the colonial era. A great choice for walking is Malecon Boulevard known for many shops and restaurants located here.

Strolling along the beautiful waterfront, you can get to Plaza Civica with La Rotonda. Here you will find one of the city's most famous monuments - statues of Simon Bolivar and Jose San Martin - national heroes whose exploits are never forgotten by local residents. An important historical monument is the Moorish Clock Tower, the construction of which started in 1842 and ended 89 years later. Mercado Sur, a covered market opened quite recently, is of particular interest. This beautiful modern building of steel and glass is a true example of modern architecture.

In the city center, here is magnificent Parque Seminario surrounded by numerous gardens and parks. On the same square is the main religious attraction - Guayaquil Metropolitan Cathedral. The first church was erected on its site in 1547 but was heavily damaged by fire. The cathedral you can see today was built in the middle of the 20th century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Get acquainted with the history of the city through a tour of the Municipal Museum, which keeps a rich collection of interesting artifacts. Any sightseeing program must include a visit to the San Carlos Fortress. Built in 1629, the fortress has been converted into a museum to present interesting art collections to its visitors.

An equally attractive cultural institution is the Museum of Anthropology and Contemporary Art. Its exposition presents collections of ceramic products, ancient ritual accessories, as well as jewelry made of precious metals and household items that belonged to the first settlers. In the north of the city is the Historic Park - one of the popular places for recreation. The territory of the park is divided into three zones. The first one is dedicated to representatives of the local flora and fauna, the second focuses on cultural traditions and crafts of local people, and the third demonstrates peculiarities of the national architecture.