The very modern , white cathedral is downtown Ambato is perhaps the most recognizable symbol of the city . The cathedral is built on the site of the original chapel that was constructed in 1689 . This was destroyed in an earthquake later and a much larger church was built only to be destroyed again in the 1797 Riobamba earthquake . A new church was built of the same design but again , an earthquake claimed the structure in the 1949 Ambato earthquake . The new cathedral was inaugurated in 1954 and sits across the street from Parque Juan Montalvo
1949 Ambato earthquake
1949 Ambato earthquake
Ambato, Ecuador