The Spanish built the first church in the Amazonas region after they arrived. It is known as the Church of Santa Ana. Inside, beautiful colonial images are preserved, now an ethnic-religious museum.
It was the first for the local indigenous people. This church served mainly to evangelize and civilize the natives.
Construction of the religious venue began in 1538, tourism portals call it an "architectural fusion mixing Spanish and native techniques.
Santa Ana Church Brief History
The church is over 400 years old. The constant seismic movements that have struck the city have completely destroyed the original architecture of this church. In 2008, with the support of some organizations, the reconstruction, recovery, and enhancement of the architecture of this church were carried out to turn it into a modern cultural complex for the city of Chachapoyas and the Amazonas region.
From that time, the church became a church- museum. The objective of the museum is to showcase to visitors the richness of the Amazonas Region (geography, flora, fauna, tourist attractions, traditions, and customs). The museum was inspired by the style of the old building, which made its construction difficult.
They had to use materials like the ones in the original building. Inside the museum, there are artifacts from the history of the Chachapoyas people. They include ceramic remains and funerary objects. These items were part of the mortuary rituals of the Chachapoyas over time.
Local residents donated the items to the temple. It also has samples of the region's nature. The museum has a cultural aspect, it also keeps religious elements. These include the painting of Santa Ana and the robes worn by the temple's clergy
However, in November 2021, Santa Ana Church suffered further damage. Locals captured the exact moment showing the 7.5 magnitude earthquake shaking the Santa Ana church. The quake caused additional structural damage.
The tourism office also said that "many earthquakes over the years damaged the church's new structure."Now, it is recognized as a National Monument. The church has the following divisions.
The conference room, where seminars and cultural events are held.
The multipurpose room allows for the development of different activities.
The patio area.
Where is it located?
The Santa Ana Church of Chachapoyas is in the Amazonas region, Chachapoyas province, Chachapoyas district. It is at an altitude of about 2348 meters above sea level.
How can I get to Santa Ana Church?
As Chachapoyas is not a big town, you can get there by walking. The church is located on Santa Ana Street block 10th.
