Cruz del Tercer Milenio, Religious monument in Coquimbo, Chile.
The Cruz del Tercer Milenio is a concrete monument on El Vigía hill that rises 83 meters high and spans 40 meters wide. Standing at 157 meters above sea level, it dominates the Coquimbo skyline.
Construction of this monument began in 1999 and was completed in 2001 to commemorate 2000 years since Jesus' birth. The project marked a turning point in regional religious architecture.
The monument houses a chapel and exhibition rooms displaying busts of Chilean Archbishops and Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. These spaces allow visitors to reflect on religious and ecclesiastical traditions.
To reach the worship area, visitors can climb a staircase with about 2000 steps or take an elevator. The observation platforms in the arms of the cross offer wide views over Coquimbo and the surrounding landscape.
The structure consists of three tilted pillars that form a supporting tripod for the cross. This unusual design combines stability with an unexpected engineering approach.
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