CHURCH OF CARMEN DE LA LEGUA

At half distance between Lima and El Callao, in the intersection of the Avenida Faucett and the Avenida Colonial (Oscar R. Benavides) Avenues, stands the historical Church of Carmen de la Legua, signalling the entrance to the District of Carmen de la Legua.

This church was constructed towards the end of the 18th Century and it rapidly became a referral to the distance between Lima and El Callao. It also became a space for spiritual fulfilment and peace to the neighbours of the locality that bears the same name.

The travellers from abroad that arrived to Peru during those times told in amazement that the horses that pulled the chariots would automatically stop at its gates, needless to be commanded to do so by the coach driver.

This Church has been refurbished on several occasions. In spite of its modest façade, in the interior stands out its main altar, dating back to the 19th Century. It consists on an ample composition with elegantly gilded capitols in the corners. Along with the crowning of the altar they arrange a proud and charming architectonical composition.

MAIN CHURCH

The traveller that decides to enter into the small, narrow and stone paved streets of this historical centre will undoubtedly acquire the sensation of charm that exudes from every corner, alley and arched portals that wait to be discovered by an acute observer.

One of these striking places would undoubtedly be the Plaza Matriz Main Square and its adjoining Church.

Dating back to Colonial times, the huge wave that preceded the Earthquake of 1746 nearly completely shattered the original building. Nevertheless, its foundations actually remained mostly intact and thus allowed the reconstruction that took place some years later.

The present building was formerly raised in the year of 1866, although it became again destroyed by an earthquake that occurred on October 17th 1966, it has since been subject to constant restorations.

On September 16th, 1995 it became re-inaugurated and consecrated as the Cathedral Church of El Callao.

The Church contains a bell made of bronze and gold that weights more than 400 kilograms.

Location: 354 Gálvez Street, Callao. At the end of the Avenida Saénz Peña Avenue, between the Constitución, Miller and Gálvez Streets.

Telephone: (511) 429-4594.

CHURCH OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION,
LIGHTHOUSE TEMPLE

In the same spot where in the present days rises the Templo del Faro - Lighthouse Temple, once existed the Church of the Inmaculada Concepción, which was built on August 30th of 1876. This Chapel was delivered to the Third Order of San Francisco which was by then being ruled by the Reverendos Padres Descalzos of Spain.

This previous Church was built with a classical style upon its façade, framed at each side by towers amidst which could be seen the image of the Purísima (Most Pure Virgin Mary) which, according to some versions, was previously a subject of worship within the already existent Iglesia Matriz Main Church.

In the interior of the Chapel could be seen the extraordinary paintings of the Vía Sacra - Sacred Road, done by the French artist Alcán.

In 1898 the possession of the Chapel fell in the hands of the Salesian Fathers, which already controlled the adjoining school. Thirty years later it returned to the hands of the Orden de los Descalzos (Barefoot priests).

This ancient Chapel gave way to a new temple named Inmaculada Concepción Immaculate Conception or the Templo Faro (Lighthouse Temple), which became built in the lapse between 1954 and 1957. It has a tower that rises 65 metres high, and from its upper viewing point one can gaze down on the Port of El Callao and the Southern beaches of Lima.

It treasures the image of the Señor del Consuelo Rey Misionero, to whom a homage is rendered on each April 12th . In its Conventual grounds also functions the Colegio Seráfico School, where the future barefoot priests are formed.

Location: 340 Uruguay Street, Callao. And at the intersection of the Constitucion and Miller Streets.

Phone: (511) 429-0571.

SAN JUAN BOSCO CHURCH

It belongs to the Salesian Order, and was constructed in the year of 1898, simultaneously to the Colegio Salesiano Don Bosco del Callao School. Its façade was done in an Italian style. Its interior is composed by three naves: the centremost is also the highest and presents a vault supported by Corinthian pillars and ends upon the main altar, whereupon the image of San Juan Bosco, Patron of the Church, is located. It also has an altar devoted to the Virgin María Auxiliadora.

Location: 350 García Calderón Street, El Callao.

SANTA ROSA DEL CALLAO CHURCH

It was built in the year of 1865 over an ancient lagoon which was dried up. It is surrounded by bushes, thick groves and several ditches. The original architecture had a very refined design, possessing two towers, beautiful altars and valuable artistic images. The altars were strewn with jewels and the Altarpiece was reputedly a true work of art.

During the earthquake, which occurred on September 20th, 1897, its foundations were shattered and the Church suffered severe damage. Hence, it was shut down, but 21 years later its reconstruction began.

In 1940, another fierce earthquake damaged some 50 per cent of the Temple and again it was reconstructed, only this time with a smaller size, because around those years started the construction of the Avenida Dos de Mayo Avenue, one of the principal roads of the Historical Centre of El Callao.

Then, after some successive refurbishing processes, the old Church finally collapsed on October 3rd of 1974, during another quake. Nevertheless, and thanks to the tenacious support of the Catholic community of El Callao, the new Temple of Santa Rosa became inaugurated on December 24th, 1978, wherein is still worshipped the image of the Señor del Mar (Lord of the Sea), Patron Saint of El Callao.
Location: 248 Marco Polo Street, El Callao.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH

This Chapel was founded as a dependence of the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Hospital in the year of 1832 thanks to the efforts of the barefoot priest Fray José Martín Prieto. In 1877 it became enlarged, but during the above mentioned earthquake of 1940 it resulted severely damaged.

During the lapse between 1966 and 1994, it served as the secondary house to the Carmen de la Legua Virgin, due to the destruction of the Iglesia Matriz Main Church by the Earthquake of 1966.

This small chapel has a special charm for the visitor. It contains a fine looking belfry which, alike the tower, is entirely built in wood. This Chapel is devoted to the Señor Crucificado (Crucified Lord) and there is a Brotherhood for this matter that was founded in the nineteen forties.

Location: Bolívar Street, El Callao

SAN JOSE DE BELLAVISTA CHURCH

Being strongly impressed by the destruction brought by the earthquake that occurred on October 28th, 1746, the Viceroy José Manso de Velasco, Count of Superunda, decided to create the City of Buena Vista, nowadays called Bellavista, with the intention of keeping the population safe from another similar disaster.

Hence, he entrusted the design of this new City to the reputed French mathematician Louis Godín. The resulting project included the construction of a Matrix Church Main Church, but due to a shortage of funds only a substituting chapel was built. Years later, this small chapel gave way to the Church of San José de Bellavista, which served for many years as the Cathedral Church of El Callao.

In the same spot over which the Church stands, existed in the past a ditch. It was in this ditch that the image of the Señor del Mar (Lord of the Sea) was found. The popular belief tells that this image was presumably carried there by the waves of a tsunami that caused great destruction in El Callao. The image became revered in this Church until the year of 1865 when it was relocated to the Santa Rosa Church.

Nowadays, the image to be worshipped here is the Señor Crucificado de Bellavista (formerly of Las Viñas), whose Brotherhood was founded on April 20th ,1954 and each year during Easter time it is taken around the District in procession.BR>

Location: 440 Francisco Bolognesi Street, Bellavista, El Callao.
Phone: (511) 440-5391

THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS CHURCH
OF LA PUNTA DISTRICT

Built in a neoclassical style, the church has a sole tower and belfry. Inside, it is composed by three naves, among which the central is also the largest and the tallest, roofed by a ribbed vault, although not profusely decorated. At its sides it contains beautiful coloured stained glass windows, which cast some delightful tonalities over the Main altar.

Location: Central Square of La Punta, Callao.
Phones: (511) 429-2555 and 429-0595.