Iglesia de la Recoleta (Peru) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iglesia de la Recoleta |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| Location | |
| Location | Cuzco, Peru |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 1559 |
| Completed | 1601 |
The Iglesia de la Recoleta is a beautiful Catholic church located in Cuzco, Peru. It is a very old and important building in the city.
Since 1972, this church has been recognized as a Historical Monument of Peru. This means it is a special place that needs to be protected. In 1983, the church became part of the historic center of Cuzco. This area was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This makes it important for the whole world.
History of the Recoleta Church
Building the Church
The construction of the church started a long time ago, in 1559. A priest named Father Francisco de Velasco began the project. A local person, Toribio de Bustamante, helped pay for it. The church was finally finished in 1601.
Next to the church, a convent was also built. A convent is a place where religious people live. This convent had a small courtyard with arches and stone columns.
Earthquakes and Repairs
Cuzco has experienced several strong earthquakes over the years. A big earthquake in 1650 caused serious damage to the Recoleta church. Many parts of the building needed to be fixed.
Because of this damage, repairs were needed. In 1688, a man named Nicolás Huallpa hired an artist named Juan Tomás Tuyro Túpac. He was hired to create 360 special stones called ashlars. These stones were used to rebuild the church's tower. Another earthquake happened in 1950, but it did not cause much damage to the church.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de la Recoleta (Cusco) para niños
