Santo Domingo Church, Santiago de Chile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santo Domingo Church |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| Sect | Dominican Order |
| Location | |
| Location | 21 de Mayo Street, Santiago de Chile |
| Country |  Chile |
 Location in Chile
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The Santo Domingo Church (which means Saint Dominic Church in Spanish) is an important church in the historic center of Santiago de Chile. It belongs to the Dominican Order, a group of Catholic priests and brothers. You can find it at the corner of Santo Domingo Street and 21 de Mayo Street.
A Church with a Long History
The Santo Domingo Church you see today is actually the fourth one built in the same spot! The earlier churches were destroyed by powerful earthquakes. These quakes happened in 1595, 1647, and 1730.
Work on the current church started in 1747. It was designed by an architect named Juan de los Santos Vasconcellos. Later, another famous architect, Joaquín Toesca, helped with its construction between 1795 and 1796.
The church has also faced two big fires. The first fire happened in 1895. The second, in 1963, caused a lot of damage and destroyed the inside of the church.
What the Church Looks Like
The main part of the church is built from large, carefully cut stones called ashlar masonry. The tall bell towers are made of clay bricks covered with a smooth plaster called stucco.
The front of the church has decorative flat columns called pilasters. You can also see statues placed inside special carved-out spaces called niches. Above the main facade, there's an upper section (called an attic) with three more statues on top.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Chile
- In Spanish: Learn more about the Santo Domingo Church in Spanish for kids
