St. Joseph's Cathedral

St. Joseph's Cathedral faces Plaza Colón in the centre of Antofagasta and serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Antofagasta. The building was constructed in 1917 in a colonial-influenced style, with a pale stone facade that stands out against the dry coastal surroundings.

The interior is relatively simple but well maintained, with colourful stained glass windows and carved wooden pews. Like much of Antofagasta's historic centre, the cathedral reflects the city's origins as a company town built during the nitrate and copper booms, when both British and Chilean communities constructed their respective institutions within a few blocks of each other. It is worth a short visit if you are walking the central plaza area.

Address: Plaza Colón, Antofagasta.

things to do sight church
A story
St. Joseph's Cathedral was built by the British community in Antofagasta during the nitrate boom of the late 19th century — a period when British mining engineers and merchants formed such a dominant presence in northern Chile that the British and Chilean communities ran parallel institutions side by side. The diocese of Antofagasta was only created in 1930, so the cathedral is newer than its congregation; the building itself dates from 1917.