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All Chile Coquimbo Church of Guayacán

Church of Guayacán

A charmingly unusual prefabricated metal church designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel.

Coquimbo, Chile

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JoJo
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Iglesia de Guayacan.   JoJo / Atlas Obscura User
Iglesia de Guayacan.   JoJo / Atlas Obscura User
Garden and church.   JoJo / Atlas Obscura User
The interior of the church.   Naslo.veliz/cc by-sa 3.0
Roof and steeple.   JoJo / Atlas Obscura User
Church steeple.   JoJo / Atlas Obscura User
Panel detail.   JoJo / Atlas Obscura User
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About

When you arrive at the intersection of Rieles and Urmeneta in Coquimbo, Chile, you’ll be greeted by a structure that looks as it if it were an ornament bought at a craft market, fated to collect dust on a mantle-piece. The metal sides and rivets show their age but have otherwise withstood the test of time.

The Church of Guayacán began its life in France. Its design is the work of none other than Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who had designed metal churches that were made to be fabricated in Europe and then assembled on-site in the French colonies. The galvanized iron was expected to withstand whatever weather the tropics could throw at them.

One of these prefab houses of worship found its way (after a side-trip to Belgium) to the town of Coquimbo, where it was erected in 1889. For a while, it served as a small Catholic hub, but then fell into disrepair and was eventually abandoned. Fortunately, the church was later restored in the 1960s and declared a national monument in 1977.

The town of Coquimbo seems an unlikely spot to find such an unusual church, as it is not nearly as well-off as the neighboring city of La Serena (though the fish and produce market is well worth an extended visit).

Related Tags

Churches Architecture Architectural Oddities Catholic Colonialism Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

The church is usually locked up, but even viewing its outside is a fascinating trip for anyone in the area.

Community Contributors

Added By

JoJo

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe

  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

November 19, 2018

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Sources
  • https://www.inspirock.com/chile/coquimbo/iglesia-de-guayacan-a3383497977
  • http://www.monumentos.cl/monumentos/monumentos-historicos/iglesia-guayacan
Church of Guayacán
Rieles
Coquimbo
Chile
-29.966928, -71.346687
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Nearby Places

Entre Cordillera Restobar Solar

Villaseca, Chile

miles away

La Silla Observatory

Chile

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Chile

Chile

South America

Places 87
Stories 22

Nearby Places

Entre Cordillera Restobar Solar

Villaseca, Chile

miles away

La Silla Observatory

Chile

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Chile

Chile

South America

Places 87
Stories 22

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