Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento, Gothic Revival church in Centro, Guadalajara, Mexico.
Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento is a Gothic Revival church of light gray-tan carved stone in Centro, Guadalajara. Its left side has a tall pointed spire with dark openings and a row of smaller spires, while a square tower to the right carries a gable with a round clock face on each visible side. The main facade further right holds a large rose window with a pale center, pointed arches, pinnacles and a cross at the top, above a row of arched windows at ground level.
Construction started in 1897 under architect Adamo Boari and continued through decades of political upheaval, including the Mexican Revolution which halted work for years. The temple was finally completed in 1972 after 75 years of building, with contributions from different architects and craftsmen who adapted European Gothic design to local materials.
Locals attend mass and light candles in the side chapels while visitors walk quietly through the aisles to view stained glass and Italian mosaics. The bells ring daily for religious and civic events, marking the rhythm of the surrounding neighborhood in Centro with both hymns and regional tunes.
The building opens daily from morning until evening with entrances on the west and north sides facing the street. Visitors can walk through the main nave and side aisles, with access to most areas, and should keep quiet during religious services that often take place throughout the day.
The German clock's four illuminated dials are linked to a carillon of 25 bells that play 25 pieces, among them the Mexican National Anthem, Las Mañanitas and the March of Zacatecas. When a melody sounds, miniature figures of the twelve apostles move in and out of the tower. Don Pablo Horn proposed the gift in 1969, and the Sembradores de la Amistad group financed it.
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