Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Aguas, Colonial church in La Candelaria, Colombia
The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Aguas is a simple colonial church built between 1657 and 1694 in the Las Aguas neighbourhood of La Candelaria, Bogotá. It has a rectangular plan with a single nave. A chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony, built in 1901 by Swiss artist Luigi Ramelli in neo-Gothic style, stands on its north side.
Construction of the church began in the mid 17th century and took several decades to complete. It was originally built as part of a larger complex that included a convent, hospital, and orphanage.
The parish is entrusted since 6 April 2008 to the Misioneros y Misioneras Identes, who took charge before Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Sáenz; the decree was read during the ceremony. The image of Saint Anthony in the 1901 north chapel was carved in Barcelona at half life size. The mural paintings were restored under an agreement between the Ministry of Culture and the Universidad Externado de Colombia.
The church stands in the Las Aguas neighbourhood of La Candelaria, Bogotá's historic centre, and is reached on foot from the surrounding streets. The former convent beside it now houses Artesanías de Colombia. The building was restored between 2003 and 2004, when structural consolidation and mural painting restoration were carried out, so some areas may be closed while work or services take place.
The north side houses a neo-Gothic chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony that was added in the early 20th century. This chapel connects to the main altar area through an unusually wide archway, showing how the original building was modified over time.
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