I believe a parroquia is considered less than a cathedral in the pecking order of the Catholic…read morechurch, but what do I know? It's still a cool landmark, especially at sunset when the pastel pink hue of the building takes on a seductive glow. It's probably sacrilege to refer to a parish church as seductive, but hey, my knowledge of Catholicism is limited to watching "Conclave" on Amazon Prime. Good flick.
Originally built in the 17th century, the church was redesigned in the 1800's to its current more ornate state by architect Zeferino Gutiérrez Muñoz. He took inspiration from European cathedrals, and its fanciful silhouette brings to mind a cross between Sagrada Família and the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland with a little bit of Petra's pink sandstone thrown in for good measure.
It's free to enter the church where you're expected to keep quiet while parishioners pray. Right across the courtyard is the Iglesia de San Rafael, another Catholic church with an equally resplendent interior. It's no wonder the parroquia is the vantage point for notable vista points like El Mirador and popular rooftop restaurants like Quince and Luna Rooftop. It's definitely the city's essential stop.
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