Gothic architecture is rare in El Salvador. Therefore, the Cathedral of Santa Ana in the center of the city of the same name is not only a historical gem in the cityscape but also real value for the whole country.

The first temple on this site was built in 1575. It is hard to tell how it looked initially because no reliable documentary proof has survived. Probably, it was rebuilt many times since by the end of the 18th century it was a ridiculous eclectic building that required serious restoration or even a complete alteration. Unfortunately, the temple was never reconstructed, as it was destroyed by lightning in the middle of the 19th century.

Bereft of the cathedral, locals began to raise funds for the construction of a new one. With the support of the authorities, the foundation stone of the new large temple was laid in 1906. The construction was long. Finally, the cathedral gained its appearance only in 1959, when the marble altar, which is one of the most beautiful in the country, was completed.

The temple is incredibly beautiful in outward appearance. It's like it's made of lace. Its towers, almost weightless, soar up in height as if they want to pierce the clouds. Compared to other buildings in the city, Santa Ana Cathedral looks a little alien. But this makes its image even more attractive.

The interior of the temple is equally impressive. Its main decoration is 28 statues of saints made of various materials. Skilled craftsmen created stunning images that strike with their believability.

On holidays, you can listen to the beautiful chime of six bells located in both towers from the square near the temple. These bells were brought to the city from the Netherlands in 1949. Initially, all of them were driven manually. But over time, the South tower was made electronically controlled to facilitate the work of the bell ringer. Few know that all six bells have their names: Joaquina, Maria, Ana, Vera, fun, and devotion.