Iglesia Católica Santísimo Rosario | Cuenca — Attraction in Cuenca

One of Cuenca’s more modern religious architecture. Although the history of its predecessors dates back to the conquistadors, this is NOT a colonial building.

Locally known as the Iglesia Santo Domingo after the Dominican monks that built the original building, it later acquired a second name as the Iglesia Santisimo Rosary (Virgin of the Rosary).

This existing building was Built in the early 1900s. It has features of New Classism, which is a contemporary interpretation (NOT a revival) of the Neoclassical period.

This building has the typical neoclassical lines, BUT there are very prominent pseudo-columns built into its walls. The bell towers have small mosaic domes, housing, reportedly the largest bells in the city.

The interior is very bright, attributable to the high windows of the nave and more notably to the very colorful paint and painted images.

• The paint/illustrations (all over the walls, rectangular pillars, ceilings) are in hues of green, orange and light brown. They have metallic sheen. These are colors usually not associated with the colonial times.

*Noticeably, the illustrations / drawings are painted on sheets of wood, some might be slates.

In addition to the usual catholic idols and images, the central high altar has the gigantic statue of “Virgin of the Rosary”.

The place seems to be closed most of time, and so a visit to the interior is...

Se comenzó a construir a comienzos del siglo XX. Destacan en su fachada las dos torres gemelas de ladrillo de unos cuarenta metros de altura. El interior se divide en tres amplias naves, separadas por pilares de madera. Tanto el altar mayor como los laterales son tallados en mármol. En el interior se destacan 15 lienzos que describen los Misterios del Rosario que datan del siglo XVIII. La iglesia se dedico a la virgen del Rosario la morenica que fue declarada patrona del Azuay en 1936.

Su historia se remonta a los orígenes mismos de la ciudad, pues fue el Marqués de Cañete Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza quien ordenó a Gil Ramírez Dávalos que señale dos solares para fundar este Monasterio. Fue construida de 1906 a 1926 por los padres dominicos, sustituyendo a una antigua iglesia de la época colonial que se encontraba en el lugar. Por su altura y presencia exterior es considerada como la segunda...

This place is quite old, even though we visited another church called the "ancient" church. More beautiful and powerful artwork here, and no entry fee required. The parquet floors were definitely old, and squeaked with every step. Add this to your list of places to visit...