The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel of Utuado (
Spanish: ''Iglesia San Miguel Arcángel de Utuado'') is a historic
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
parish church located in
Utuado Pueblo, the administrative and historic center of the municipality of
Utuado, Puerto Rico
Utuado () is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central mountainous region of the island known as the '' Cordillera Central''. It is located north of Adjuntas and Ponce; south of Hatillo and Arecibo; east of Lares; and west ...
. The church is listed in both the
Inventory of the Historic Churches of Puerto Rico and the
United States National Register of Historic Places due to its architectural and historical significance.
The church was designed in 1866 by
Onofre Llorapart and built in stages between 1872 and 1878 in the main town square (''plaza pública'') of Utuado, on its east-facing block that it currently shares with the parish house (''casa parroquial'') and its adjacent Catholic school. This urban setting is highly traditional of the historic downtowns (
pueblos
The Puebloans or Pueblo peoples, are Native Americans in the Southwestern United States who share common agricultural, material, and religious practices. Currently 100 pueblos are actively inhabited, among which Taos Pueblo, Taos, San Ildefonso ...
) of Puerto Rico. The exterior and façade of the building showcase the traditional
Spanish Colonial architecture of the 19th-century contemporary churches of Puerto Rico with elements inspired in
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
and
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing style ...
. With the exception of routine renovations and the removal of the Renaissance-style side pillars and arcades of the church in 1965, the building is well preserved and has never suffered from integrity-endangering modifications.
Gallery
File:SanMiguelArcangelAug2007.jpg, 2007
File:Iglesia en Plaza de Utuado.JPG, alt=
File:78SanMiguelArcangelSmall.jpg, 2016
File:AltarSanMiguelAlcangel.jpg, alt=
File:SanMiguelArcangelMural.jpg, alt=
File:PuertaSanMiguel Arcangel.jpg, alt=
See also
*
References
Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Puerto Rico
Neoclassical architecture in Puerto Rico
Roman Catholic churches completed in 1872
Spanish Colonial architecture in Puerto Rico
Utuado, Puerto Rico
19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in insular areas of the United States
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