Metropolitan Cathedral

Dominating the east side of Parque Central [1] is the city’s modest, Corinthian-columned Catedral Metropólitan (tel. 506/2221-3826, 6 a.m.–noon and 3–6 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 6 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun.), with a Greek Orthodox–style blue domed roof. The original cathedral was toppled by an earthquake in 1821; the current structure dates from 1871.

The interior is unremarkable, barring its lofty barrel-arched ceiling supported by fluted columns. Outside, at the corner of Avenida Central, is the Homenaje a Juan Pablo II, the Homage to Pope John Paul II statue inaugurated in September 2006.

Tucked in the cathedral’s shadow to the south is the Curía or Archbishop’s Palace, dating from 1887.