Torre Citibank is a towering office building in El Salvador and one of its most impressive landmarks. The 18-story tower is 243 feet (74 metres) high and covered from top to bottom in glass windows. Visit during the day and see the building reflect the sunlight and surrounding cityscape. See the building at night, when its edges are outlined by colored light.
The building was designed by Ricardo Jiménez Castillo, a respected Salvadoran architect. Construction was completed in 1989. For years, the skyscraper was known as Torre Cuscatlán and you may hear many locals still calling it that. However, today, its official name is Torre Citibank or Torre Citi, after the multinational financial services group who now own the building.
This architectural marvel is a working building, which houses suites of offices. Unfortunately, organised public tours are not available. Don’t let that stop you from putting a visit on your travel itinerary, because the building is well worth seeing, especially at night.
Once the sun goes down, the edges of the tower light up and from a distance, all you can see of the large structure is its illuminated outline. If you visit during the day, make sure to bring your camera. Many visitors like to come here to try and take artistic photographs of reflections in the glassy windows.
The tower’s unique design makes it stand out from other skyscrapers in San Salvador. As you look up, note the building’s three setbacks. These are large recesses in the exterior stricture, and if you look carefully, you’ll see they are covered in plants.
Torre Citibank is located about 4 miles (6.5 kilometres) from the city centre. Arrive by taxi or rental car. Situated on a busy main road, you won’t find any parking spaces immediately outside the building. If you drive, look for vacant spots in nearby streets and walk the rest of the way.
