Iglesia de San Francisco

About Iglesia de San Francisco

📜 History

The Iglesia de San Francisco, completed in 1618, stands as Santiago's oldest building with a known construction date. Founded after Pedro de Valdivia's 1541 establishment of Santiago, the church began as a humble chapel for the Virgin del Socorro. Initially administered by the Order of Mercy, it was transferred to the Franciscans in 1544, who committed to building a proper temple. The original adobe structure was destroyed in the 1583 earthquake, leading to the current stone construction that commenced in 1575 with indigenous labor. Despite surviving numerous earthquakes including the devastating 1647 Magno earthquake that destroyed its tower, the church has been continuously rebuilt and expanded, making it a living testament to Santiago's resilience and spiritual heritage.

🏛️ Architecture

Built with massive stone blocks in a Latin cross plan, the church represents one of Chile's finest examples of colonial religious architecture. The structure features thick stone walls forming the central nave and transept, topped with an impressive mudéjar-style coffered ceiling begun in 1615 that remains one of the building's most remarkable elements. The current Victorian-style bell tower, designed by architect Fermín Vivaceta and completed in 1857, houses a four-faced clock and harmoniously blends 19th-century aesthetics with colonial features. The interior showcases intricate wooden details, including a masterfully carved cypress door connecting the sacristy to the cloister, spanning 5x3 meters. By the late 18th century, brick side naves were added, transforming the cross-shaped plan into the current rectangular configuration while preserving the original stone structure.

⭐ Key Facts

As Chile's oldest surviving building and the only remaining example of Santiago's early colonial architecture, the Iglesia de San Francisco holds immense historical and cultural significance. Designated a National Monument in 1951 and included in UNESCO's tentative World Heritage list in 1998, it serves as an irreplaceable window into colonial Chile. The church houses one of Latin America's most important colonial art collections, including 42 paintings from the Cuzco School depicting Saint Francis' life, created in the second half of the 17th century. Its Colonial Art Museum preserves invaluable artifacts that tell the story of Chile's spiritual and artistic development. For both locals and visitors, it represents continuity with the past and stands as a symbol of Santiago's enduring Catholic heritage.

Step into five centuries of devotion and craftsmanship, where Santiago's spiritual heart continues to beat as strongly as when the first bells rang in 1618.

Information verified by the EncuentraIglesias editorial team