St. Augustine Cathedral

From the Araucanian language, the name of the city of Talca translates as Noise of the Volcano. Frequent earthquakes fully justify this name. Besides, in the mountains, there are volcanoes, giving problems to residents. Each time, they are rebuilding their cities, erecting, and consecrating new temples. The main shrine of Talca, St. Augustine Cathedral, also has a long and sad history.

Franciscan monks were building the first church in the 1750s. The wooden construction was quickly falling to pieces, and they erected a stone one in 1796. But this shrine was destroyed by the earthquake of 1835. Seven years later, the locals decided to build it again. The construction lasted 20 years. Unfortunately, this time the earthquake did not spare and destroyed the third church.

The construction of the fourth shrine in the city of Talca, which is now called the Cathedral of St. Augustine, started in 1938 and lasted for 15 years. Finally, the main construction of the cathedral was completed, and the citizens saw a fabulous religious building in the Romanesque style. The architect Ramón Venegas and engineer José Mascayano were establishing it of stone, brick and, wood. Alejandro Rubio became its decorator. Despite the fact that internal work was still ongoing, in 1953, in the presence of a representative of the Pope, the Catholic Cathedral was consecrated. Only by 1955, all the works were finally completed, and the bell was ringing in the bell tower owing to the donation of the patron Gabriel Pando Ocampo.

Another powerful earthquake in Chile in 2010 caused severe damage and destroyed many cathedrals and churches. Fortunately, St. Augustine Cathedral did not suffer so much, and its restoration took only two years. Today, a magnificent pattern of architectural art and one of the main city sights is open for its parishioners and all guests of Talca.