Did you know that Iglesia Santa Ana de Paucarpata has survived earthquakes? This church stands in the main square of Paucarpata. It is more than just a pretty building. It is a symbol of faith and resilience.
Iglesia Santa Ana de Paucarpata’s story begins long before the current structure. The Dominican friars oversaw this area before 1540. They ministered to the indigenous people of Paucarpata. They built a small temple but earthquakes destroyed it. These quakes greatly damaged the altars. The decorative baroque style changed by 1957.
In the early 17th century construction of the current Iglesia Santa Ana de Paucarpata began. Builders used stone and lime. The church faces north to south. The main entrance is towards the meridian. An atrium surrounds the Iglesia Santa Ana de Paucarpata. It features a single nave with thick walls. Square buttresses support the structure. The roof is a semi-circular vault. Small windows dot the walls. The frontage covers 2500 square meters. A bell tower rises to a cupola. Four pyramidal pinnacles surround it.
The main facade of Iglesia Santa Ana de Paucarpata is austere. It has a large portal. Columns and pilasters flank the portal. These are topped with Corinthian capitals. Above is an architrave ending in a cornice. A rectangular niche sits in the center. The architecture is neo-Renaissance. A bell tower stands on the upper left.
The side facade is monumental and baroque. It rises in a curve. Columns on pedestals support it. Corinthian capitals adorn the columns. An architrave ends in an interrupted cornice. A ledge interrupts the central part. A curved tympanum ends in two volutes.
Mestizo art decorates the side facade of Iglesia Santa Ana de Paucarpata. Jars with flowers adorn the columns. Foliage patterns decorate the church. Bunches of grapes add to the detail. Angels play trumpets. Pre-Columbian motifs are present. Felines with foliage coming from their mouths add detail. There are also nail heads and masks. An image of Jesus of Nazareth is on the cupola. He is surrounded by cherubs. God the Father is at the top and the Holy Spirit above him.
Iglesia Santa Ana de Paucarpata is a smaller facade. Its columns and capitals are shorter than the arch’s curves. The entablature’s lower cornice is split. This happens as the arch invades the frieze’s central space. The horizontal frieze is interrupted. A corbel juts out. This is absent in pure Renaissance facades.
The frontispiece sits above the entablature’s upper cornice. Its width aligns with the columns. The column extends vertically. It transforms into square pillars. These act as buttresses. They strengthen the walls against earthquakes. Lateral ornaments decorate it.
Iglesia Santa Ana de Paucarpata is a Cultural Heritage of the Nation. This was declared on April 7 1959. You can visit Iglesia Santa Ana de Paucarpata all year. The church is open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Remember the artisans. Remember the earthquakes. Think about the faith that built and rebuilt Iglesia Santa Ana de Paucarpata. It is more than a building. It is a story etched in stone.