Church of San Francisco, Castro

The Church of San Francisco is the spiritual centre of Castro and the most photographed building in the Chiloé Archipelago. It stands on the Plaza de Armas, its twin towers painted in a vivid combination of yellow ochre and lilac that is either shocking or beautiful depending on your taste — and is, after a few minutes, unambiguously both. The interior is calmer: wooden columns and arches, carved from native timber by local craftsmen who developed the techniques used in all the archipelago's churches.

The church is one of 16 Chiloé churches on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognised for the unique fusion of Spanish Baroque design with the indigenous Chiloé architectural tradition. The entire structure was built using traditional carpentry, without metal nails, using only mortise-and-tenon joints and wooden pegs. The church is active and services are held regularly. Entry is free; donations welcome.

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The church was built in its current form at the end of the 19th century after previous structures on the site were repeatedly destroyed by fire and earthquake. The striking yellow-and-lilac paint scheme is a relatively modern addition — earlier versions were painted more soberly. The combination of neo-Gothic towers and the distinctive Chiloé wooden construction tradition is found nowhere else in the world. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.