CHURCHES

CARMEN DE ANGASTACO CHURCH
Along the spectacular National Route No 40, 35 kms away from the Molinos Locality, and at 50 kms from San Carlos, the impressive presence of the Iglesia del Carmen stands out, portrayed as in a pedestal at the margins of Rio Calchaqui River, facing a set of colourful mountains patiently carved by the winds throughout the ages.

This chapel, namely one of the foremost examples of Colonial art in the Calchaquíes Valleys, is part of the Salta patrimony due to its long history filled with inheritances and family traditions.

Its history started the year of 1769, when the then proprietors of the "Estancia de Angastago" Ranch as it was known on those times, Don Francisco de Fonseca y Trusa, and Doña María Andrea Diez Gómez, sold it to the Presbyterian clerk Don Pedro Pablo del Sueldo y Ríos.

As was the custom of those days, a friend of the priest donated an amount of money to built a church in which a mass would be daily offered on behalf of the donor's name, to save his soul and win indulgencies for his eternal forgiveness.

That is how, in 1783, the temple was built in order to fulfil a pledged word. It very soon became an obliged place of worship and the site of religious ceremonies to the inhabitants of the surrounding ranches and villages. The priests that prayed masses in this place, dwelled in a house that was to become a chaplainry.

Along the years, as different proprietors held the lands, the place turned into a flourishing town, transforming it, by a Decree given on November 25, 1844, into the Parroquia Independiente de San Carlos y de Molinos Independent Parish.

In 1833, as the rural population from the ranch tended to move towards the place where now stands the town of Angastaco, seven kms south of the Chapel's location, the latter's influence weakened and eventually lost its past importance as Vice-Parish.

It was not until 1968 that the new owners of the ranch decided to restore the Chapel.

SAN JOSE CHURCH
In the 18th century, the town of Cachí was born on the grounds of the Hacienda Cachí Ranch, property of the Aramburu family, and the small chapel built by them as a private oratory turned out to serve as the town's temple. Such was the birth of this monument, placed facing a small vice-Royal styled place connected to the major town's square with a vista to its mountainous landscape.

The church was deeply changed on the year of 1890, when a new neoclassical portico was added to the facade concealing its primitive reed-mace belfry. Then, in 1946 the portico was eliminated, although this didn't imply a full removal of its original appearance.

It presents a single nave covered by a vault composed of adobe-bordered arches with spurge wood alcoves. The original mud and straw roof cover is currently protected by tin sheets. The gallery that runs along the church's right side has much art value, due to the rhythmic succession of the strong buttresses that support the weight of the vault. A cardon wood planking covers the floor, uniting the whole space with warm ochre tones.

The distance from Salta City is about 146 kms travelling over the No 33 Provincial Route and the No 68 National Route, and reaches 2,280 m.a.s.l.

SAN PEDRO NOLASCO DE MOLINOS CHURCH
During the second half of the 17th century, Don Diego Díaz Gómez entrusted the building of a chapel in the manor house of his "Encomienda de Molinos". His son-in-law, General Domingo de Isasmendi, enlarged it before giving it to the Tucumán Diocese to found the Parish of San Pedro Nolasco de Cachalquï.

The present church was probably erected on the late 18th century by Don Nicolás Severo Isasmendi, last of the royal governors in Salta. And the town of Molinos grew around this Chapel.

The church presents a vast atrium bordered by a low fence, with three entrances. Conformed by a single nave, but two lateral chapels provide a cross-like shape. A chorus protrudes outwardly above the access, sheltered by an arch that also connects both bell towers.

Two flat panelled towers, with simple mouldings on them, are crowned with round small domes, generating an extraordinarily harmonic and expressive comoplex. The inside, with its strong white adobe walls, culminates on level with the main altarpiece. With its dark and heavy wooden armouring, the roofing marks a deep contrast with the rest of the Chapel. Above it, a spurge wood planking with its wooden beams in sight supports the roof tiled cover, stuck onto mud cake.

On the year of 1826, the church was declared the "Parroquia de San Pedro de Nolasco de los Molinos" Parish. It is found on the National Route No 40, 46 kms from Cachí, 112 kms from Cafayate and at an altitude of 2020 m.a.s.l.

SAN CARLOS BORROMEO CHURCH
During the year of 1719, Field Master Fernando de Lisperguer y Aguirre, had a chapel built on his farm Hacienda de San Carlos, that eventually lay desstroyed. Over its ruins, the present one was built in 1801 and consecrated in 1854.

This church, the largest one around the Calchaquíes Valleys, and the only one of the zone with transept and dome, shows the significance that this region once held. As a matter of fact, San Carlos came to dispute with the city of Salta for the honour of being the Capital of the Province.

The use of European style elements shows the will to outstand and exalt the church building. In 1930, some seism weakened the original vaulted roof, forceing its replacement for one of derricks and tin plates. Thus, the quality space of the single nave with thick adobe walls became altered.

The arms of the transept and the sanctuary still maintain its vaults armed upon wooden beams, supported by half point arches. The apse's back is covered by a masonry altar, according to the usage around the valley. A notable popular imagery of Hispanic style enriches every altar.
On the facade, the luminous plans that the towers display, gives great contrasts with the shadows given by the great superior shelter arch and the access doorway, characterized by columns rotated against the general plot, bears three half point arches.

The historical town of San Carlos, in the Calchaquíes valley, is located on National Route No 40, 24 kms away from Cafayate.