The Churches of Chiloé in
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the eas ...
's
Chiloé Archipelago
The Chiloé Archipelago ( es, Archipiélago de Chiloé, , ) is a group of islands lying off the coast of Chile, in the Los Lagos Region. It is separated from mainland Chile by the Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east and t ...
are a unique architectural phenomenon in the Americas and one of the most prominent styles of
Chilota architecture. Unlike classical
Spanish colonial architecture, the churches of Chiloé are made entirely in native timber with extensive use of
wood shingle
Wood shingles are thin, tapered pieces of wood primarily used to cover roofs and walls of buildings to protect them from the weather. Historically shingles, also known as shakes, were split from straight grained, knot free ''bolts'' of wood. To ...
s. The churches were built from materials to resist the Chiloé Archipelago's humid and rainy
oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ...
.
Built in the 18th and 19th centuries when
Chiloé Archipelago
The Chiloé Archipelago ( es, Archipiélago de Chiloé, , ) is a group of islands lying off the coast of Chile, in the Los Lagos Region. It is separated from mainland Chile by the Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east and t ...
was still a part of the Spanish Crown possessions, the churches represent the fusion of Spanish
Jesuit
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
culture and local native population's skill and traditions; an excellent example of
mestizo
(; ; fem. ) is a term used for racial classification to refer to a person of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry. In certain regions such as Latin America, it may also refer to people who are culturally European even though thei ...
culture.
The Churches of Chiloé were designated
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
s in 2000. The University of Chile, Fundación Cultural Iglesias de Chiloé and other institutions have led efforts to preserve these historic structures and to publicize them for their unique qualities.
[Berg Costa, Lorenzo (2005), ''Restauración Iglesias de Chiloé Conservando lo Infinito,'' Editorial Universitaria, p. 3, ]
Location
The sixteen churches registered as part of the World Heritage Site are concentrated in the central eastern zone of the archipelago.
See also
*
History of Chiloé
Notes
External links
World Heritage Evaluation: Churches of Chiloé
{{DEFAULTSORT:Churches of Chiloe
Architecture in Chile
Churches in Chiloé Archipelago
Religion in Chiloé
World Heritage Sites in Chile
Roman Catholic churches in Chile
Colonial architecture in Chile
Wooden churches in Chile
Mestizo art