Churches of Chiloé
Name of Building
Churches of Chiloé
Town or City, Country where the building was originally established
Chiloé archipelago, southern coast, Chile
Date the building was designed and/or first built
- 1610-1767 the Jesuits began building the churches part of the "circular missions".
- 1767 Jesuits were expelled by Spanish territories. The Franciscans took over building and maintaining the church.
-18th century wooden churches were constructed.
-1991 restoration began to preserve historic buildings.
-2000 16 of the churches were a UNESCO world heritage site.
- 1767 Jesuits were expelled by Spanish territories. The Franciscans took over building and maintaining the church.
-18th century wooden churches were constructed.
-1991 restoration began to preserve historic buildings.
-2000 16 of the churches were a UNESCO world heritage site.
Name of Architect, Builder, or Primary Patron Responsible
Jesuits missionaries, Franciscans, Spaniards
Culturally Specific Time Period
17th century, 18th century, 19th century, early 20th century
Geo-Location
-42.49975421219375, -73.78593508775275
Materials
- Wood.
- Stone.
- Nails and Metal fasteners.
- Wooden shingles.
- Stone.
- Nails and Metal fasteners.
- Wooden shingles.
Size and/or Scale of Building
- medium sized wooden structures between 20 to 40 meters in length and 8-15 meters In height.
- spacious inside designed to accommodate the community.
- spacious inside designed to accommodate the community.
Architectural Type
Religious
Formal Style
- Chilota Style. ( A blend of European Jesuit Baroque and local indigenous craft ).
Building Description
The churches of Chiloé were constructed from wood and boasted a tall central bell tower that rose majestically in a symmetrical design. These churches showed a vibrant brown hue supported by white cylindrical pillars. The most iconic feature of the churches is the front courtyard. A covered entrance supported by a row of wooden columns with rounded edges. The roofs were steeply pitched to allow rain to slide off easily. Small windows punctuate the side walls, while decorative crosses alongside the building showing religious significance of these buildings. Surrounding the church is a spacious courtyard, enclosed by a perimeter of trees.
Image source
Image 1: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/971
Image 2, 3, & 4: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/churches-of-chiloe-unesco-world-heritage
Image 2, 3, & 4: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/churches-of-chiloe-unesco-world-heritage
Creative Commons or other copyright information
Image 1, 2, 3, & 4: creative comments
Student First and Last Name
Kevin Ruiz
Bibliographic references for the item
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre. “Churches of Chiloé." https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/971.
- Jordan, Adrienne. “These Centuries-Old Nailless Churches Are Still Standing.” National Geographic, September 20, 2017. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/churches-of-chiloe-unesco-world-heritage.
- Jordan, Adrienne. “These Centuries-Old Nailless Churches Are Still Standing.” National Geographic, September 20, 2017. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/churches-of-chiloe-unesco-world-heritage.
Citation
Jesuits missionaries, Franciscans, Spaniards , “Churches of Chiloé,” World Architecture, accessed June 28, 2026, https://www.worldarchitecture.artinterp2.org/items/show/63.
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