Description of the attraction
The Church of St. Anne is located in the historic center of Santiago de Chile at the intersection of Cathedral and St. Martin streets and was built in the neoclassical style by the Chilean architect Juan José Goyacolea in 1806.
In 1578, a temple was built on this site. The first church building was destroyed by an earthquake in 1647. The newly erected church building was completely destroyed after another earthquake in 1730. In 1746, the construction of the third building of the temple began on this site, which was demolished at the beginning of the 19th century due to its poor condition.
Another building of the Church of Santa Ana was built thanks to the priest Vicente Guerrero. When he arrived in Santiago de Chile as abbot of the parish of St. Anne in 1802, the building of the temple was almost completely destroyed after two fires. Thanks to his dedication and connections, parishioners were able to receive financial support from the government to begin the reconstruction of the church building. The building of the temple was designed in the neoclassical style by Juan José Goyakolea, a student of the outstanding architect Toesca. The construction of the new church building, which we can see now, began in 1806, and it was consecrated in 1854, even before its full completion.
Since 1926, over the course of 10 years, the church has undergone significant changes. The tower, nave and vaults of the temple building were completely redesigned. However, elements of the original neoclassical style of the temple can still be seen today. During the last strong earthquake in 2010, the building was again seriously damaged and temporarily closed for restoration work.
The plan of the church is made in the form of a Latin cross with two side chapels, which, together with the central part of the nave, were built during the reign of Juan Jos Goyacolea. The tower of the temple, consisting of three tiers, is located above the central part of the temple. The tower is decorated with a clock and topped with a spire. Inside the church there is an altar by Fermin Vivachet and an old marble font. Next to the Church of St. Anne there is a square with a beautiful fountain; large centenary trees grow along the perimeter of the square.
In 1970, the Church of Santa Ana was listed as a Historic Monument in Chile.
