St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Calama, Catholic cathedral in Calama, Chile

St. John the Baptist Cathedral stands on Plaza 23 de Marzo in central Calama, facing the square. The roof was replaced in 2000 with copper sheets extracted and processed at the Chuquicamata mine, and the tower was clad in copper from the Radomiro Tomic mine. The building was erected in 1906 under Bishop of Antofagasta Luis Silva Lezaeta.

The cathedral was erected in 1906 by Bishop of Antofagasta Luis Silva Lezaeta, facing Plaza 23 de Marzo in central Calama. In 2000 its roof was replaced with copper sheets extracted and processed at Chuquicamata, and the tower was clad in copper from the Radomiro Tomic mine. Bishop Cristián Contreras Molina consecrated the building on 11 November 2001.

The cathedral serves as the main gathering place for Catholic worship and religious celebrations in Calama. It stands at the heart of the city and reflects the faith that remains central to local life.

The building sits centrally located at Plaza 23 de Marzo and is easy to reach on foot from downtown. The interior is generally open to visitors outside of service times.

The copper that covers the roof comes directly from the nearby Chuquicamata and Radomiro Tomic mines. This choice ties the religious building to the mining heritage that shapes Calama's identity.