Cathedral of Quito

Cathedral Of Quito

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito — in Spanish, La Catedral Metropolitana de Quito and officially Catedral Primada de la Virgen Asunta al Cielo, or simply La Catedral — is the cathedral church in Quito, Ecuador and perhaps the oldest cathedral in South America. Construction began in 1562 and was completed five years later. Located on the southwestern side of the Plaza de la Independencia (La Plaza Grande) in the Historic Center of Quito, it (and its predecessor building) served as a seat of the Diocese of Quito from 1545 until 1848 when it was elevated to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quito. In 1995 it was elevated to the Cathedral of Ecuador, making it the seniormost Catholic church in the country.