Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary stands on the Plaza Prat, the main square of Copiapó, its pale neoclassical façade a counterpoint to the bare brown hills visible above the rooftops. The current building dates from the 1850s, when the silver boom was at its height and the town could afford to build with ambition.

The interior is calm and well-proportioned, with good natural light and a sense of peace that contrasts with the industrial and commercial character of the town around it. The Plaza Prat itself is a pleasant place to sit and watch Copiapó going about its business.

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The cathedral's façade is built in a neoclassical style unusual for Chilean provincial churches — it was designed by an English architect, William Rogers, who came to Copiapó during the 1850s silver boom. Rogers also designed the railway station, and his work gives Copiapó's historic centre a coherence and quality that sets it apart from most mining towns.

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