Cathedral of Puerto Montt, Catholic cathedral at Plaza de Armas, Puerto Montt, Chile
The Cathedral of Puerto Montt is a church building at the city's central square marked by four Doric columns on its front. Inside, twelve columns made from local alerce wood support the roof and create a warm wooden interior space.
The cathedral was founded in 1856 as the city's first church and shaped religious life from the beginning. The 1960 earthquake damaged the structure badly, but major repairs saved the building from collapse.
The cathedral shows how European architectural styles mixed with local building traditions chosen by early settlers. Visitors can see this blend of influences both outside and inside, reflecting the character of the city.
The building sits on the Plaza de Armas and is easy to reach on foot from the city center, with good views of the front from the street. The interior is open to visitors during opening hours, with simple dress expected and respectful behavior appreciated.
The alerce wood of the inner columns is unusually long-lasting and was chosen by the founders specifically for its ability to resist moisture and pests. This rare wood is now protected and was already a precious material from the southern forests back then.
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