Iglesia San Francisco de Borja, Santiago, Gothic Revival church in Santiago, Chile
Iglesia San Francisco de Borja is a Gothic Revival church in Santiago characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and a large rose window on its facade. The interior features 29 stained glass panels imported from France that depict religious scenes and fill the space with colored light.
The building was constructed in 1876 as the chapel for Hospital San Borja and designed by architect Hovender Henry, who drew inspiration from Paris's Sainte-Chapelle. This connection to French religious architecture shaped the church's Gothic Revival appearance and its imported decorative elements.
This chapel serves the Carabineros, Chile's national police force, and holds some of the country's oldest stained glass windows. The imported French glass panels create colored light patterns throughout the interior and reflect the building's refined religious purpose.
The church sits at Carabineros de Chile 160 near the Universidad Católica and Baquedano metro stations and Parque San Borja. The location is centrally accessible by public transport, making it straightforward to reach from different parts of the city.
The structure survived the 1977 demolition of the surrounding hospital complex and now stands among the modern towers of the San Borja neighborhood. This contrast between a 19th-century chapel and contemporary high-rises creates an unexpected visual moment in the urban landscape.
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