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Urban parish · Cuenca, Ecuador

San Sebastián

San Sebastián is the historic western parish of Cuenca. Its traditional barrio grew at the edge of the early Spanish grid around an ermita, a boundary cross and later the church and plaza; the present urban parish extends beyond that named barrio, so the two should be kept distinct.

The western edge of early Cuenca

The municipal historical study records an ermita dedicated to San Sebastián and San Fabián by 1578, beside a humilladero and cross marking the western exit. It later became a parish and barrio; the 1982 ordinance gives the administrative parish a much larger perimeter reaching the northwestern urban limit and the Tomebamba. 2 1

Church, plaza and making

Fundación Municipal Turismo describes the church as a former chapel, prison, asylum and school before its 1981 conversion into the Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno, now a public gallery, library and auditorium. The same guide points to the Miguel de León plaza, metal repoussé work and small galleries, showing how a historic religious landmark now sits alongside contemporary cultural and craft activity. 3 4

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