The Wooden Temples of Chiloé: Works of Art Born at the Crossroads of Two Worlds (24 photos + 1 video) Video)
Off the coast of Chile lies the Chiloé Archipelago, a world where some thirty islands form a community with a unique character. 
Its inhabitants, whose culture is embodied in unique folklore, myths, cuisine, and architecture, jealously guard their identity. 
When the government proposed connecting the islands to the mainland with the longest bridge in Latin America, the islanders protested. They feared that tourism would destroy the uniqueness of their community and pollute their land and water. 
However, sometimes connections to the outside world bear fruit. The best proof of this are the magnificent churches of the archipelago's main island, Isla Grande de Chiloé. These churches are a harmonious fusion of European and local architectural traditions. 
Church of Santa Maria
The archipelago was discovered by the Spanish in the mid-16th century, and the Jesuits arrived at the turn of the 17th century. During their missionary journeys across the islands, they began constructing wooden churches, employing local craftsmen. 
The intercultural dialogue of builders from different geographic and cultural backgrounds gave birth to unique structures, unparalleled anywhere else in the Americas. 
At one time, there were up to one hundred and fifty wooden churches on the archipelago. Today, fewer than seventy remain, and sixteen of them are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 
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