Basilica of the Sacramentinos (Santiago, Chile)

Basilica of the Sacramentines . Catholic heritage property located in the center of the city of Santiago . It is in charge of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, under the title of the Sacred Heart of Jesus . Declared a National Monument of Chile in 1991 .

Summary

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  • 1 Location
  • 2 History
  • 3 Arquitectura
  • 4 National Monument
  • 5Cultura popular
  • 6 See also
  • 7 Image Gallery
  • 8 Fountains

Location

Located at Avenida Santa Isabel No. 1127, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan Region , Chile.

History

The Basilica of the Sacramentinos, is a temple of great proportions that is part of a monumental architectural complex also integrated by the Cousiño Palace and the Basilica of the Heart of Mary.

Its history goes back to the year 1908 with the arrival of the congregation of Los Sacramentinos in Chile, who commissioned the construction of the church to the Chilean architect Ricardo Larraín Bravo who designed a temple similar to the church of the Sacred Heart of Paris , composed of a underground crypt and an upper church in Roman Byzantine style.

The construction of the Basilica was developed in two phases, first the crypt was built between 1912 and 1920 , after which the temple was built between 1920 and 1934 .

In 1926 the contract was signed for the sculptor Aliro Pereira, from the School of Fine Arts, to sculpt the adoring angels that are on the façade of the church, the Sacred Heart of Jesus as well as Saint Peter Julián Eymard , who are looking towards Plaza Almagro. All these sculptures are made of white cement .

The temple of the Sacramentinos, is a national votive in honor of the first Centenary of the Country’s Independence and since August 30, 1928 it is also a parish.

In 1972 the Sacramentinos lost the conventual patio, as a result of the depopulation of the sector, where an entertainment center known as the Diana Games was built.

The 1985 earthquake brought down the Great Cross, in addition to jumping some sectors of the roof. In 1986 , the idea of ​​restoring it with the free work of a construction company and funds from a German institution was conceived, which materialized in 1988 .

Architecture

The basilica is in the Neo-Romanesque, Neo-Byzantine style, it has a reinforced concrete structure with an underground crypt of 1,500 m² and a large central dome , located above the altar .

The upper complex is made up of two churches, each with three naves, with high towers and imposing domes, the main one was adorned with a large cross designed by Ricardo Larraín.

The interior of the temple stands out for the elegance of its ornamentation, composed of nationally manufactured wooden parquet floors, stained glass windows made in France while the main altar was made in Argentina . The carved pulpit and the confessionals were made in the workshops of the Salesian fathers, as was the choir stalls, where the religious pray the office. The church pews were made in the same workshops, all carved from lingue wood .

The bronze doors were made by Chilean goldsmiths . On the lintel, written in a dead language, there is an inscription that says: “I have chosen this place so that my heart remains in it.”

National Monument

The basilica was declared a National Monument of Chile in the category of Historical Monument, through Supreme Decree No. 408 of October 29, 1991 for constituting an urban landmark of great importance for the city of Santiago, in addition to its architectural merits and its heritage value. and historical.

Popular culture

The facade of the Sacramentinos was used in the eighth episode of the second season of the television series Flash (T2: E8: Min.36), of the American chain The CW for a battle between superheroes Barry Allen, Flash, and Oliver Queen , Green Arrow, against the evil wizard Hath-Set, Vandal Savage, which takes place in a church in Central City.

The façade has also been used on the cover of the novel Código Chile by Carlos Basso. The ground near the altar inside the cathedral is one of the entrances to the abyss in the ACE Team video game Abyss Odyssey.

Plaza Bernardo Leighton, which faces this church and is known as Plaza de Los Sacramentinos, was one of the locations used in the successful Chilean film “A Fantastic Woman”, winner of the 2018 Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category, directed by Sebastián Lelio and starring Daniela Vega .