The Most Beautiful Churches of Chiloé, Chile

Church altar in Chiloe | © paz guentelican/Flickr
Church altar in Chiloe | © paz guentelican/Flickr
Photo of Harry Stewart
Harry Stewart
1 June 2017

Scenic and quaint, Chiloé boasts misty rolling hills, warm friendly people and a fascinating seafaring history. But it’s the island’s magnificent churches that really pull in the crowds, each with their own unique color scheme to provide a reference point for fishermen at sea. Around 70 of these marvels were constructed almost entirely from native wood in the Chilota architectural style, an attractive mix of European Jesuit form and traditional indigenous design which has earned UNESCO recognition.

Church of San Francisco

Church
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Interior of San Francisco
Interior of San Francisco | © Leonora (Ellie) Enking/Flickr
The third oldest church in Chile, San Francisco was originally built in 1567 to evangelize the indigenous inhabitants of the region. Situated on the main plaza in Castro, Chiloé’s capital, the exterior was built in a neo-Gothic style and features a bright yellow galvanizad iron facade and two identical towers. Inside, ceiling buttresses stretch up to 100 feet (32 meters) and an image of the Archangel Michael battling against Satan adorns the back altar.
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Castro, Los Lagos, Chile
+56652538000
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Church of Santa María de Loreta

Church
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Church of Santa María de Loreta
Church of Santa María de Loreta | © Pedro Rebolledo Rubilar/Wikipedia
Located on Achao, the biggest town on the Quinchao Island, the central wooden spire of the Church of Santa María de Loreta is a fine example of Chilota architecture. Built back in 1740 when the entire Chiloé archipelago was still under Spanish rule, this is the oldest surviving traditional church of the Jesuit era.
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4 Progreso, Los Lagos, Chile

Church of Quinchao

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The Church of Quinchao is the only other remaining traditional church of the Jesuit era, which is why its exterior is almost identical to that of Loreta. Built in 1880 just one block uphill from the sea, strong wind and rain has necessitated many restorations over the years, the most significant of which took place in 2006 and saw 80% of its timber completely replaced.
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9091 La Florida, Villa los Rosales 2, La Florida, Región Metropolitana, Chile

Church of Caguach

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Located on the island of the same name, the Church of Caguach had to be rebuilt from scratch after it was gutted by fire in 1919. This distinct red church features a single, block-shaped tower and is notable for its shingled facade. Built to honor the almighty Jesus of Nazareth, a huge festival takes place on August 30 which recreates his brutal last moments, complete with whipping, a thorny crown and a mock crucifixion.
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Cabach, Chile
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