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Historic colonial church in Nicoya is open again for visitors By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The historic colonial San Blas church in Nicoya* was closed to visitors after it was almost destroyed by the 7.6 magnitude Sámara earthquake in 2012. Wednesday, the Cultural Heritage Center announced the reopening of the church after the long reconstruction process that was valued about $1.2 million. During the re-inauguration, President Carlos Alvarado said expressed joy at the restoration of one of the most important, ancient and beloved temples for all Costa Ricans. According to the Ministry of Culture, the church was built in 1644, but an earthquake destroyed it in 1826. According to the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory, there are no technical records on that earthquake. The report of 1826 earthquake was reported based on witness reports. In 1827, the Constitutional Assembly decreed the reconstruction of the church. The first earthquake recorded om Costa Rica, including photos and newspapers reports, was Sept. 2, 1841, in the Province of Cartago. However, no technology could measure the magnitude of that earthquake. On Sept. 5, 2012, the so-called Great Earthquake of the Nicoya Peninsula, magnitude 7.6, destroyed much of the church. Therefore, the authorities requested the closure as a security measure. "This is one of the oldest temples in the country and of great value not only for people in Nicoya and Guanacaste but for people throughout the country," said the ministry in its statement. Walls and the facade of the church were restored from 2015 to 2017 Also restored were floor sand the electrical system, and other improvements were made. During the work "buried objects and bodies were found according to tradition in the colony," said the ministry in its statement. "The base of the first construction of the temple of 1644 was discovered, so it was decided to leave two areas to allow the public to see the remains of four centuries." Diego Meléndez, director of the Cultural Heritage Center said that the modern restoration techniques guarantee that the colonial church can be visited by future generations. "At the end of the third and final stage of the reinforcement of this beautiful temple, we can guarantee its permanence for the enjoyment of the present and future generations," Meléndez said. "This reinforcement with carbon fibers meant security for the stability of its walls with the minimum impact on its historical fabric. ” Ministry authorities are inviting the public to visit the historic colony church of San Blas*. The place is open to the public every day. It is located in the community of Santa Lucia, between Justo Flores Avenue and First Street in Nicoya in the Province of Guanacaste. ----------------------- Which other colonial building should be restored by the Ministry of Culture? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com |
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