Cathedral Basilica of Esquipulas

The Cathedral Basilica of Esquipulas is the largest Roman Catholic church in Central America and the only one on the continent flanked by four bell towers, a white baroque landmark that dominates the skyline of this small town in southeastern Guatemala. At its heart stands the Black Christ of Esquipulas, a dark wood sculpture carved in 1594 by Flemish-trained sculptor Quirio Cataño from cacao wood. Reports of miraculous healings spread almost immediately after the statue's installation, drawing pilgrims from across the Americas and transforming Esquipulas into one of the hemisphere's most important sacred destinations. The present baroque church was completed in 1758, purpose-built to accommodate the surging crowds, and holds the rare combined status of cathedral, basilica minor, and Guatemalan national shrine. Today more than a million pilgrims visit each year, with the peak pilgrimage week falling in January.