Church of Santa María de Loreto, Achao Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Church of Achao
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Achao's Church facade
Location	Achao, Quinchao, Chiloé Province, Los Lagos Region, Chile
Part of	Churches of Chiloé
Criteria	Cultural: (ii), (iii)
Inscription	2000 (24th Session)
Area	0.165 ha (0.41 acres)

The Church of Santa María de Loreto de Achao (which means Church of Saint Mary of Loreto of Achao in Spanish) is a Roman Catholic church. You can find it in Achao, the biggest town on Quinchao Island. This island is part of the Chiloé Archipelago in Chile.

People often call it the Church of Achao. It was built around 1740, a long time ago when Chile was still ruled by Spain. The Achao church is one of the oldest churches in Chiloé. It was built by Jesuit missionaries and is still almost the same as it was back then. It is one of 16 special wooden churches in Chiloé. These churches are so unique that UNESCO made them a World Heritage Site. They show a special way of building with wood, called the Chilota School of Religious Architecture.

Church of Achao: A Special Building
- Why is it a World Heritage Site?
Gallery
See also

Church of Achao: A Special Building

The Church of Achao is very important because it is one of the oldest churches in the Chiloé area. It was built by Jesuits, who were a group of Catholic priests. They built many churches in the 18th and 19th centuries. This church is special because it still looks almost exactly as it did when it was first built.

Why is it a World Heritage Site?

The Church of Achao is part of a group of 16 wooden churches in Chiloé that are recognized by UNESCO. This means they are very important to the world's history and culture. They are famous for their unique way of being built from wood. This style is known as the "Chilota School of Religious Architecture on Wood." It shows how people in Chiloé used their skills to build beautiful and strong churches using local wood.