Balbanera Church
La Balbanera is a church building in Colta Canton, Chimborazo Province. It was built in 1534 and is the oldest church in Ecuador.[1][2]
The church was founded by a Spaniard Diego de Almagro. The location was hosen close to the Lake of Colta, which was a sacred place for the local inhabitants, and thus de Almagro thought this would be a good place to start the evangelization of the area.[1]
The building is constructed of limestone blocks and clay. The original main portal in the style of American colonial architecture has been preserved.[2]
The name originates from Our Lady of Valvanera, a devotion common in La Rioja. In particular, Our Lady of Valvanera is a patron saint of Sierra de la Demanda.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Tomaselli, Bernarda. "La Balbanera" (in Spanish). Ministerio de Cultura y Patrimonio.
- ^ a b Vergara, Víctor (23 April 2022). "La eterna Iglesia de Balbanera, en el corazón del Chimborazo". Revista Mundo Diners (in Spanish).