Chiloe, Home Of Iconic 17th Century Wooden Churches
The churches of Chiloe are made entirely in native timber with extensive use of wood shingles unlike many Spanish colonial architecture.
Isla Chiloe, Los Lagos, Chile Wednesday, January 25, 2017
It is impossible to visit Chiloe and not see the incredible wooden churches. A 30- minute ferry crossing away from mainland Chile, verdant Isla Chiloe, is a world away. It is characterized by rolling hills and small towns with striking traditional wooden churches. Sixteen wooden churches clustered around Castro on the island's east coast have UNESCO World Heritage Status. Traditional colorful palafitos (houses on stilts) dots its shores. To the west, the densely forested Chiloe National Park, shelters sea lions, foxes, otters and provides unspoiled terrain for horseback riding, sea kayaking and fishing.
Its physical isolation from the rest of the country has meant that the island of Chiloe have developed and maintained a history and culture distinctively different to that of the mainland. It has its own mythology and folklore based on witchcraft. It also has its own cuisine including the renowned curanto, a stew containing meat, seafood and potatoes. It has its unique style of architecture with its wooden churches representing the 17th century Jesuit traditions.
The churches generally faces the sea and are built near the beach with an open air area, a plaza or an esplanade in front of them. The outside of the churches are almost always bare and the only thing that expresses functionality is the three-tiered, hexagonal bell tower that rises up directly above an open fronted portico. The facades, doors, windows are brightly painted and the walls are clad with wooden shingles. All the churches have three naves separated by columns, which in larger buildings are highly decorated, supporting barrel- vaulted ceilings. The ceilings are painted with allegorical panels and sometimes with golden constellations of stars painted on an electric blue background. (please see some of the photos exhibited).
The two main towns are Ancud and Castro. Ancud is an attractive seaside town and a lively fishing port. The town centers on Plaza de Armas which is filled with craft stalls. Castro is built on a small promontory at the head of a 20 km fjord. It is the capital of Chiloe and it is the third oldest city in Chile. Its main attraction are the palafitos. They are precarious but picturesque timber houses on stilts situated on the waterfront to the north and south part of the town. Palafitos were the traditional dwellings of most of the fishermen of southern Chile.
Palafitos are construction built on pillars, submerged in water in Ancud.