The Santa Bárbara Doncella Parish Church, Local Pride
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Clearly one of the most emblematic buildings in the city. It is the most frequented by domestic and foreign tourists. The reasons are obvious: its solemn beauty and French design, attributed to Gustavo Eiffel himself.
When in Santa Rosalía, seeing this parish church is a must.
Like most memories in Santa Rosalía, the history of Santa Bárbara Doncella parish goes back to the early days of El Boleo mining company in the late 19th century.
According to the chroniclers, in 1895, a few Catholic women went to see the director of the French company, requesting a church for the emerging city. With the women’s petition in mind, he went on a business trip to Belgium, where he found the perfect church. It was just the right size and had a prefabricated, metallic structure to be assembled, ideal for traveling.
In the end, the company purchased it and had it shipped to Santa Rosalía, where it was assembled in late 1897 in what is now termed the Historic Center of the city.
The Eiffel Church
It should be noted that authorship of the building is attributed to renowned French engineer Gustavo Eiffel, who designed the iconic tower bearing his surname in the French capital. The church is said to have been displayed at the 1889 Paris Exposition, as a prototype designed for the French colonies in Africa.
Eiffel took on the challenge of designing a metal church to replace the wooden ones built on the African continent and subsequently devoured by ants.
Although a plaque on the outside of the parish church states that it is the work of Eiffel, some scholars of the famous Frenchman claim it is not actually by him. The lack of historical documents is a clear impediment in trying to confirm its origin.
An Austerely Beautiful Parish Church
Santa Bárbara is considered the first prefabricated church set up in Mexico. It has sheet metal roofing, metal walls that are bolted together and a huge underlying metal structure that supports the building.
Despite having lost several of its original stained glass windows, those that remain lend the place its mystical charm, which transmits peace and spirituality to churchgoers and visitors alike. You will experience that when there.
Finally, it is worth noting that its ornaments, candelabra and the Gothic altarpiece were imported from Europe and remain intact after more than a century.
The Iron House Honoring the Patron Saint
It is no coincidence that Saint Barbara is the patron of the city, given that miners, as well as people who work with explosives and artillery, pray to her. Likewise, on her feast day, December 4, a number of religious acts are celebrated to honor her.
Finally, the Santa Bárbara Doncella parish church was registered as a historic building by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (Instituto Nacional de Antropología and Historia, INAH) and is the pride of locals.
On your next trip to beautiful Baja California Sur, visit Santa Rosalía and its magnificent 126-year-old parish church.
Location
Álvaro Obregón, Center, Santa Rosalía, B.C.S.
