Barraza, Chile, Colonial village near Ovalle, Chile
Barraza is a small settlement near Ovalle that stretches along a main street opening onto a central plaza. Colonial-era houses line the built areas, with farmland and unpaved roads spreading outward from the core.
Spanish captain Antonio Barraza received these lands as a dowry gift in the mid-17th century and founded a settlement in this location. The place grew to become a significant center during Chile's early colonial period.
The settlement takes its name from its 17th-century founder and maintains a rhythm shaped by farming life. People gather regularly at the church and central plaza, where daily routines are still guided by local traditions and customs.
This place is best explored on foot, with simple unpaved roads connecting the main areas and scattered buildings. The central plaza and parish church are easy to locate and serve as natural gathering points.
The parish church was designed by renowned architect Joaquín Toesca between 1795 and 1800, featuring neoclassical style with adobe walls. A side chapel within the building was reserved exclusively for male worshippers until recent decades.
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