Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, Cusco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús |
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Main facade
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| Location | Cusco |
| Country | Peru |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1571 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Flemish Jean-Baptiste Gilles, Diego Martínez de Oviedo |
| Style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1651 |
| Completed | 1673 |
The Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús (which means Church of the Society of Jesus) is a very old and important Jesuit church. It is located in Cusco, Peru. Cusco was once the capital of the amazing Inca Empire.
You can find this church right in the city center, in the Plaza de Armas de Cusco. It was built on the site of an old Inca palace. This church is a fantastic example of Spanish Baroque architecture in Peru. Its design even inspired many other Baroque buildings in the southern Andes mountains. Building started in 1576. However, a big earthquake in 1650 badly damaged it. The church was rebuilt and finished in 1673.
Contents
History of the Church
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The Jesuits were a group of priests who arrived in Peru in 1568. They reached Cusco on January 12, 1571. The Viceroy (a ruler representing the Spanish king) allowed them to use a place called Amarucancha. This land used to belong to the family of Hernando Pizarro.
The Jesuits bought the land with money donated by Teresa Orgóñez and her husband. On July 17, 1571, they officially started the Colegio de la Transfiguración del Señor and the Church of la Compañía de Jesús. They began building the first church that same year. They also built a small chapel nearby for the local people.
This first church had a beautiful front design called Plateresque. It was considered one of the most impressive churches in Peru at the time. Around 1631, they also added arches around the square. But then, a powerful earthquake in 1650 caused a lot of damage. The church had to be completely taken down.
Rebuilding the Church
The plan for the new church was much bigger. It would have two side chapels and three doors facing the square. Construction began on August 22, 1651. The main part of the church, called the nave, was finished by August 1653.
The church's new design was so grand that it caused some arguments. People worried it would make the nearby Cathedral seem less important. The Bishop of Cusco even tried to stop the building. But the Jesuits won the right to continue.
The construction took 17 years to complete. The church was designed by a Flemish Jesuit architect named Jean-Baptiste Gilles. The work on the front of the church was led by Diego Martínez de Oviedo. He likely followed Gilles's original plans.
The church officially opened on July 31, 1668, with a big celebration. The Jesuits continued to use the church until 1767. That's when King Charles III of Spain ordered all Jesuits to leave Spanish lands. The Jesuits left Cusco on September 14, 1767. After they left, the church became a local parish church.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church (Facade)
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The church is built entirely from stone, using pink basalt and andesite. It has one main open space inside, called a nave, and two smaller chapels on the sides.
The front of the church, or facade, is a great example of the Baroque style. It has two tall towers on the sides and a grand central part. The bottom of the facade has a large main door with a rounded top. On each side of the door, there are three Corinthian columns. These columns have special rings on their shafts.
Above the main door, there's a statue of the Virgin Mary in a special alcove, called a niche. The middle part of the facade has a central window. The very top of the facade is shaped like a three-leaf clover. It has beautiful carvings and a central altarpiece design.
Inside the Church (Interior)
When you step inside, you'll see the huge central nave. Its ceiling is covered with ribbed vaults, which are strong stone arches. This design is similar to the famous Church of the Gesù in Rome.
In the middle part of the church, called the transept, light shines down from a round dome. This light highlights the amazing stone carvings. These carvings show how skilled the local stonemasons were.
The main altar is at the front of the church. It's a massive altarpiece, 21 meters (about 69 feet) high and 12 meters (about 39 feet) wide. It's carved from cedar wood and covered completely in gold leaf! It has twisted columns, many paintings, and a central painting of the Transfiguration of Jesus. There's also a statue of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception. All the decorations, including precious stones, show off the Baroque style.
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The church also has many other beautiful altarpieces and carved areas. There's a large collection of sculptures and paintings. You can see artworks by Marcos Zapata and his assistant Cipriano Gutiérrez. Near the main altar, there are two paintings showing the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Two very important historical paintings are inside the church. One shows "The Wedding of Captain Martín García Oñas de Loyola with Doña Ñusta Beatriz Clara Qoya." This painting shows a Spanish captain marrying an Inca princess. She was the daughter of Sayri Túpac and niece of Túpac Amaru. This marriage was important because it joined Spanish and Inca noble families. Their daughter became the first Marquiss of Santiago de Oropesa. This title gave her control over a large valley.
The other painting shows another wedding, that of Beltrán García de Loyola with Teresa Idiáquez. The church also has other paintings and sculptures by artists like Diego de la Puente and Cristo de Burgos.
Chapel of San Ignacio de Loyola
The Chapel of San Ignacio de Loyola is on the south side of the church. Next to it is the building for the modern-day National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco. This university building was originally part of the Jesuit university.
After the Jesuits left in 1767, the building was used as army barracks and even a prison. Later, it became a place for artisans. The chapel itself is small and simple, made of stone. It has a less ornate entrance than the main church. Today, it is used as an exhibition hall.
The University Building
Right next to their church, the Jesuits built their own university. It was called the University of San Ignacio de Loyola. Today, it is the home of the National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco. It's interesting to note that these two universities were big rivals in the late 1600s!
The stone front of the university building is from that time. It has a very unique design with decorative windows. Its wide entrance hall, topped with a dome, is special for Cusco. The inner courtyard, with its simple stone arches, became a model for other buildings in the city. This building now houses the Museum of Natural Sciences.
Side Chapels
The church complex also includes two smaller chapels. One is called the "Chapel of the Indians" or "Chapel of la Virgen de Loreto." It was first built in 1571 and rebuilt after the 1650 earthquake. The other is the Chapel of San Ignacio, which is now used by the Society of Artisans of Cusco.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de la Compañía (Cuzco) para niños
- List of buildings and structures in Cusco
- List of Jesuit sites
