SAINT ISIDRO LABRADOR CHURCH – Architecture

The current Saint Isidro Labrador temple is the work of Ignacio Cremonesi whose works started in 1896 and concluded in 1903. Although, after the 1906 earthquake, Ricardo Echeverría repaired and refurbished the church, and also added a dome over the High Altar, the design proposal continues to be that of Cremonesi.

The church erects in a simple neo-classic style volume over a basilica-type floor plan. With Roman architecture reminiscences, the front is highlighted by two large columns that frame the three accesses forming the narthex that is framed with Roman arches. Later accesses are closed with metal fences and over them there are two niches with religious figures. The attic can be appreciated as an extension of the central nave, getting closer to the façade flat area and crowned by a triangular pediment. The main entrance is formed by several columns and a triangular pediment, over which we can see a rosette.

On the later faces, the façade is formed by over pilasters and large picture windows with a Roman arch and in the accesses to the transept, there is a porch formed by a triangular pediment and two pairs of isolated columns.

The particularity of the construction is its on-sight brick masonry walls. The foundations and over foundations are of semi-cut rock. There are reinforcements of the metal plates in the cantilever of the cornices and in the hollow brick vaults of the entablature’s architrave. The roof structure is made in oak and the cover is made of galvanized iron.

In its interior, the lateral naves are formed by barrel vaults located between each set of columns that hold a Roman arch and will give place to the incorporation of devotional altars. The central nave is also formed by columns and Roman arches, but the ceiling is built by five lowered curve small domes and finished by a large dome. The dome central, located in the transept stands out for having French style windows (XIX century), which provide certain lightness towards the space. The central nave ends in the apse, which is rather ornamented and that houses the High Altar.