Iglesia del Monasterio del Carmen Bajo de San Rafael, Catholic church in Independencia, Chile.

The Iglesia del Monasterio del Carmen Bajo is a Catholic church built with neoclassical design elements, constructed primarily from adobe bricks with decorative columns and cornices. The tower is topped by a statue of Saint Raphael and displays a mix of wooden and iron components typical of colonial-era construction.

Construction began in 1767 under the initiative of Corregidor Luis Manuel de Zañartu, who provided financial backing, and the monastery complex was completed in 1770. The building arose during a period of religious growth in Santiago and served as an important hub for the Carmelite community.

The monastery was founded and maintained by a community of Carmelite nuns who devoted themselves to spiritual life within its walls. Their presence shaped the religious character of the neighborhood for generations.

The church stands parallel to Avenida Independencia in the Independencia district, north of the Mapocho River, with a fenced atrium on its south side. Since 1985 it has housed the Vicaría Episcopal Zona Norte of the Archdiocese of Santiago, so it is an active administrative and pastoral seat rather than a museum; visitors should check access before coming.

After the nuns left in 1958, the abandoned church was used as a warehouse for the Vega Central market before becoming the seat of the Vicaría Episcopal Zona Norte in 1985. The tower's upper stages are wood clad in stamped iron sheets, topped by a statue of the Archangel Raphael added by Fermín Vivaceta in 1870.