CHURCH OF LA VERA CRUZ – Architecture

The Church of la Vera Cruz is a neoclassical style construction with Doric elements, designed in 1852 by the French architect Claude-François Brunet des Baines, who suddenly died in June 1855, making Fermín Vivaceta the architect in charge of concluding the work.

The Church is formed by a nave that has a roof with two slants. In the façade, the portal is located in front of the wall’s flat side and is characterized by two Doric columns that hold a semicircular arch and frame the entrance opening. The portal ends, over the attic, with a belfry of mullioned window span with two bells. On the walls there are four niches, only the two lower ones contain images, that of Saint Pedro and, possibly, Moses. The two neighboring houses, allocated to the parish activities are on one floor and are built in the neoclassical style.

In the interior, the temple is rather simple. The only nave finishes off in a semi-dome apse. The walls are decorated with a set of moldings, located mid-height; the upper stretch contains the semicircular arched windows and the lower stretch has three niches.

In addition, oak beams can be seen with which the two-slant roof is made. The stretches of the ceiling are ornamented with moldings.

The choir is over the entrance, which is reached by a spiral staircase made in cast iron.

The walls are made of brick with whitewash mortar and are made with stucco. The roof at some point had tiles, but currently it is made with galvanized iron. The doors are made of wood.

The church had some modifications made for the centenary adding a lateral chapel and the niche that holds the confessionals.

Finally, between 2001 and 2002 a restoration project was executed under the architect Amaya Irarrázaval, where the flexit floor in the nave is replaced for a ceramic one; in the presbytery, Carrara marble is placed and a marbled balustrade; a new lighting project is added; radiant heating is installed on the floor and the wall and ceiling painting is done with an array of colors that provide warmth and a luminous aspect to the interior space.