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 is a very old Roman Catholic church in Calama, Chile. It was built around 1650, making it the oldest church in Chile! Because it's so important, it was named a National Monument in 1951.

History of the Oldest Church

The San Francisco de Chiu Chiu church was built in the mid-1600s. It stands right next to the main square of Chiu Chiu. In 1965, some important repairs were done. The old wooden bell towers were replaced with new ones made of stone. These new towers replaced even older ones that had fallen down in the 1800s.

What the Church Looks Like

The church has a special shape called a Latin cross, which looks like a cross from above. The main part of the church, called the nave, is about 27 meters (88 feet) long and 5 meters (16 feet) wide.

Building Materials

The church walls are made from adobe, which is a type of sun-dried mud brick. These walls are very thick, about 1.2 meters (4 feet) wide! The roof is also unique. It's made from wood from local trees like chañar, algarrobo, and even cactus. Instead of nails, the wood was held together with leather strips. On top of the wooden roof, there's a thick layer of mud and straw to protect it.

Special Features

The church has a rounded entrance that looks like a tunnel, called a barrel vault. Outside, there's a stepped wall that helps support the building. This wall also leads up to the bell towers and the mud-covered roof.

The church is located inside a walled area. This area also contains some old graves. Inside the church, you can see a crucifix (a cross with Jesus on it). This crucifix is carried outside during special religious processions. There is also a painting showing Jesus Christ being mistreated.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de San Francisco (Chiu Chiu) para niños