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 Iglesia de Santo Domingo in Spanish) is a beautiful church in the heart of Santiago de Chile. It belongs to the Dominican Order, a group of Catholic priests and brothers. You can find it right where Santo Domingo Street and 21 de Mayo Street meet.
The Story of Santo Domingo Church
This church is actually the fourth one built in the same spot! The Dominican community in Santiago needed a place to worship. Sadly, big earthquakes in 1595, 1647, and 1730 knocked down the earlier churches.
Building the current church started in 1747. It was designed by an architect named Juan de los Santos Vasconcellos. Later, another famous architect, Joaquín Toesca, also worked on its construction between 1795 and 1796.
The church has also faced two serious fires. The first one happened in 1895. The second fire, in 1963, caused a lot of damage and destroyed the inside of the church.
What the Church Looks Like
The main part of the Santo Domingo Church is built with strong, cut stone blocks called ashlar masonry. The tall bell towers are made from clay bricks covered with a smooth plaster called stucco.
If you look at the front of the church, you'll see decorative flat columns called pilasters. There are also statues placed inside special carved-out spaces called niches. Above the main part of the building, there's a section called the attic, which has three more statues on top.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santo Domingo (Santiago de Chile) para niños
- Roman Catholicism in Chile
