Iglesia de San Francisco
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
Location
MunicipalityCalama
CountryChile

The Iglesia de San Francisco[1] is a Catholic Church located in the commune of Calama, El Loa, Antofagasta Region, Chile. Built approximately in 1650, it is the oldest church building in Chile.[2][3] It was declared as a National Monument in 1951.[1]

History

The church of San Francisco de Chiu Chiu was built in the mid 17th century.[1] It is adjacent to the square of Chiu Chiu.[1] In 1965, the Architecture Branch of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas de Chile carried out a renovation project, which included the replacement of the wooden belfries with two stone belfries on the main facade.[1] The first ones, in turn, had replaced the original belfries, which collapsed in the 19th century.[1]

Description

The church has a Latin cross plan.[1] The nave is 27 metres long and 5 metres wide.[1] The walls of the church are of adobe and are 1.2 metres thick.[1]The collar beam roof, made of chañar, algarrobo and cactus, was fastened with leather strips and is nail-free. The roof is covered with a thick layer of mud and straw.[1]

The church features a barrel-vaulted entrance. An exterior wall is buttressed by a stepped wall, which leads to the belfries and to the mud covered roof.[1]

The church is located in a walled site where there are graves.[1] The interior of the church contains a crucifix that is taken out from it during the processions and a painting of Jesus Christ being mistreated.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Iglesia de San Francisco de Chiu Chiu". Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Flores-Toledo, Cristián (10 October 2012). "Indignación por rayados en la Iglesia San Francisco de Chiu-Chiu". El Diario de Antofagasta. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Iglesia de San Francisco de Chiu Chiu". TurismoChile.com. 23 July 2003. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

22°20′34″S 68°39′02″W / 22.34290°S 68.65052°W / -22.34290; -68.65052


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