Templo de La Merced, Catholic church in Sarco district, Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Templo de La Merced is a Catholic church in the Sarco district with a single nave and a four-section bell tower that holds multiple bells at different heights. Inside, the main altar displays three sections dedicated to the Virgin, the Sacred Heart, and statues of two saints.
Italian architect Franchesco Fontaine built this chapel between 1826 and 1840, drawing design ideas from Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. It initially served as a private chapel until 1982, when it became a public place of worship under a religious community.
The name La Merced refers to the mercy of the Virgin Mary, who is venerated as the central figure in this sacred space. The arrangement of saints and holy figures at the altar reflects how family relationships and divine compassion are woven into the spiritual life of those who worship here.
Visitors enter through a spacious atrium that includes a water fountain, added during renovation work completed in 2006. This entrance area provides comfortable access to the interior worship space.
The bell tower holds multiple bells spread across four distinct levels, an uncommon arrangement that allowed different tones and rhythms for various occasions and prayer times. This layered design created a more complex sound than typical single-level bell systems found in other churches.
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