Iglesia de San Francisco (Chiu Chiu) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iglesia de San Francisco |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Location | |
| Municipality | Calama |
| Country | Chile |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | c. 1650 |
The Iglesia de San Francisco (which means Saint Francis Church) is a very old Roman Catholic church. You can find it in a place called Calama in Chile. This church was built around the year 1650. It is known as the oldest church in all of Chile! Because it's so important, it was named a National Monument in 1951.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
How Old Is It?
The San Francisco de Chiu Chiu church was built in the middle of the 1600s. It stands right next to the main square of Chiu Chiu.
Changes Over Time
In 1965, some important work was done on the church. The people in charge of buildings in Chile helped with this project. They replaced the church's wooden bell towers. These old towers were changed to new ones made of stone. The very first bell towers had fallen down in the 1800s.
What the Church Looks Like
Its Unique Shape
The church has a special shape called a Latin cross. This means it looks like a cross from above. The main part of the church, called the nave, is about 27 meters (89 feet) long. It is also about 5 meters (16 feet) wide.
Walls and Roof
The church's walls are made from adobe. Adobe is a type of brick made from earth and straw. These walls are very thick, about 1.2 meters (4 feet) wide! The roof is also very interesting. It's a special type of roof called a collar beam roof. It was built using wood from trees like chañar and algarrobo. They even used parts of cactus plants!
What's really cool is that the roof pieces were held together with leather strips. No nails were used at all! On top of this wooden roof, there is a thick layer of mud and straw. This helps protect the church from the weather.
Entrance and Outside
The church has a rounded entrance that looks like a tunnel. This is called a barrel-vaulted entrance. Outside, there is a strong, stepped wall. This wall helps support the church. It also leads up to the bell towers and the mud-covered roof.
Inside the Church
The church is built inside a walled area. This area also has graves. Inside the church, you will find a crucifix. This is a statue of Jesus on the cross. It is taken out during special walks called processions. There is also a painting inside that shows Jesus Christ being mistreated.
