La Balbanera

Central Highlands


Although much of it crumbled in the 1797 earthquake, parts of the facade of this beautiful low-slung church date from 1534, making it one of the oldest churches in Ecuador.

On a clear day Chimborazo peeks out behind the church. Across the plaza is a small museum with interesting local artifacts such as a drinking vessel fashioned from a bull scrotum.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Central Highlands attractions

1. Laguna de Colta

0.26 MILES

A trail with broad views of Chimborazo leads around Laguna de Colta, passing through traditional villages and grazing livestock. There's a children's play…

2. Parque 21 de Abril

8.52 MILES

Just north of downtown, the Parque 21 de Abril has an observation platform with views of the surrounding mountains.

4. Museo de la Ciudad

8.6 MILES

Built in the 1900s by the Costales-Dávalos family, this beautifully restored historic building has a few old-time pictures of the city, rotating art…

5. Parque Maldonado

8.63 MILES

The handsome, tree-filled Parque Maldonado is flanked by Riobamba’s cathedral on the northeastern side.

6. Fería Artesanal

8.64 MILES

The Saturday market transforms Riobamba into a hive of commercial activity, when thousands of people from surrounding villages come to barter, buy and…

7. Cathedral

8.67 MILES

The ornate, baroque facade of Riobamba's cathedral was reconstructed from fragments after the 1797 earthquake that destroyed the town. Made from white…

8. Museo de Arte Religioso

8.68 MILES

Inside the beautifully restored 18th-century convent, Riobamba’s top museum houses one of the country’s finest collections of 17th- and 18th-century…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "ecuador/laguna-de-colta/attractions/la-balbanera/a/poi-sig/1502535/1327306",
      "destination": "Central-Highlands",
      "continent": "South-America",
      "country": "Ecuador",
      "region": "Central-Highlands",
      "position": "superzone"
    }