Iglesia de Santo Domingo (La Serena) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iglesia de Santo Domingo |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Location | |
| Municipality | La Serena |
| Country | Chile |
The Iglesia de Santo Domingo (Church of Saint Dominic) is a historic Catholic church in the city of La Serena, Chile. You can find it at 235 Gregorio Cordovez Street. Because of its long and interesting history, it was named a National Monument of Chile in 2001.
This beautiful church is one of five old churches in the city built with stone. It was constructed between the 1600s and 1700s. A special feature is its bell tower, which was added much later in the 1800s and has a different style from the rest of the building.
Contents
History of the Church
The First Building
The Dominican Order, a group of Catholic priests, came to this area of Chile in 1615. Their goal was to teach the local people about their religion. Between 1673 and 1675, they built the first church in La Serena. It was made of large stone blocks called ashlar and wood.
In 1686, the church was part of a dramatic event. An English pirate named Edward Davis and his crew of 200 men attacked La Serena. When the city's soldiers fought back, the pirates were forced to hide inside the church. The pirates were eventually driven out, but before they fled, they set fire to parts of the church building.
Rebuilding and Restoring
After the pirate attack, the church had to be rebuilt. Around 1775, it was finally reopened. The builders cleverly reused stones from the original church. They also used limestone from a local quarry and wood that was brought in from far away.
A Local Legend
A famous story from the time of the rebuilding tells of a miracle. A series of huge waves, like a tsunami, threatened to flood La Serena. The water was rising and coming far into the city.
The frightened townspeople took a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary from the church and carried it through the streets in a procession. According to the legend, as soon as the statue was brought out, the ocean waters calmed down and returned to their normal level.
Surviving Earthquakes
The church has faced many challenges over the centuries. A powerful earthquake shook La Serena in 1801, causing major damage to the building. It had to be repaired, and some parts were completely rebuilt.
Later, in 1825, silver was discovered nearby. This brought a lot of money to the city, which helped pay for renovations to the Church of Saint Dominic and other local churches. After another earthquake in 1850, the church was remodeled again.
From 1906 to 1911, the church was updated. Its outside walls were covered in plaster, and a new bell tower was built. However, between 1961 and 1962, a restoration project removed the plaster. This was done to show the beautiful original stone walls underneath and bring the church back to its historic look.
Architecture and Design
The Church of Saint Dominic is a great example of old colonial architecture.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The main part of the church, called the nave, is 45 meters long and 9 meters wide. The front of the church is made of light-colored limestone. The large front door is carved from cedar wood. It is framed by decorative stone pillars and a special archway.
Above the entrance, there is a small hollow space, or niche, with a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary inside. The tall, elegant bell tower stands out because its style is different from the main church building.
Inside the Church
Inside, the main altar features a beautiful image of Our Lady of the Rosary. There are also side altars with statues of two important saints, Saint Dominic and Francis of Assisi.
Over the years, different religious groups have taken care of the church. Today, it is managed by a group called the Instituto Secular Voluntas Dei, with permission from the Dominicans.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santo Domingo (La Serena) para niños
