Jerusalem Municipal Park, Guayaquil

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Jerusalem Municipal Park, Guayaquil

Jerusalem Municipal Park, Guayaquil

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Perhaps the most sacred place on Earth, Jerusalem has long been the global epicenter of the world’s three monotheistic faiths. Though it lies more than 12,000 kilometers away from Ecuador’s most populous city, Guayaquil, the two cities are unexpectedly linked by a hidden garden, located in the latter. Boasting a medley of replicas and evocative artworks, the Jerusalem Municipal Park in Guayaquil pays homage to the ancient, faraway city, which still dominates the hearts and minds of everyday Ecuadorians.

By: Omri Westmark

Date: 17:42 01.09.24

Last Update: 17:42 01.09.24

Parks Urban Ecuador Guayaquil Latin America & Antarctica

A city revered by millions of believers worldwide, Jerusalem holds profound importance for both Christianity, Islam and Judaism. After all, it was in this holy city that the construction of the First Temple by King Solomon, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the ascension to heaven by Prophet Muhammad, all took place.

In 2019, Ecuador’s largest city, Guayaquil, inaugurated a Jerusalem-themed park that commemorates its storied past, offering insights to various pivotal events that took place throughout its history and forever changed our world.

Nestled in Urdesa neighborhood, the park was first envisioned by Johnny Czarninski, Consul General of Israel, and Jaime Nebot Sa’adi, former mayor of Guayaquil. This fenced garden invites visitors to explore the major connections between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam through a series of sculptures, reliefs and monuments.

At the heart of the park stands a pair of stairways adorned with 18 bronze plaques. These plaques narrate Jerusalem’s history, from Abraham’s ultimate test of faith to the reunification of the city in 1967 after Israel annexed its eastern half following the Six-Day War. The journey culminates at a replica of the Knesset’s Menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum that symbolizes the eternal light among Jews. Sandwiched between the steps is a fountain whose floor is decorated with a Star of David.

The centerpiece of the park’s is an intricately crafted 1:150 scale model of Jerusalem as it stood during the Second Temple period, about two millennia ago, capturing the city at its ancient zenith. This detailed representation spans 115 square meters, showcasing iconic structures such as King David’s Tomb and the Damascus Gate. Painstakingly created by Ecuadorian artist Fernando Insua, the miniature city was inspired by the vision of Israeli historian Michael Avi-Yonah and the writings of Flavius Josephus.

Upon the park’s completion, controversy arose when some members of Guayaquil’s Arab community criticized the project as politically motivated. But regardless of one’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, the verdant enclave is an interesting and pleasant place to explore in an otherwise gritty area of the city.