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This episode of the Urbanist is brought to you by arup. Arup, the firm behind some of the world's most iconic public and structural projects, works with leaders to plan and deliver the systems that shape how cities and societies function across transport, energy, water and buildings. Arup's approach to design is how complex decisions get made, seeing the whole picture and creating outcomes that work in the real world. Because the future does not just arrive, it's shaped by the choices we make today. Learn more@Visit arup.com Next Arup Design for what's Next.
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Venezuela's second city of Maracaibo is known for the massive lake which gives the metropolis its name as well as its collection of centuries old architectural landmarks. One such landmark sits high above the lake and dates back to the 16th century and the days of Spanish colonization. You're listening to Tall Stories, a monocle production brought to you by the team behind the Urbanist. I'm Andrew Tuck. In this episode, Gustavo Ocando Alex takes us to a church which helps tell the story of Venezuela's history.
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On the shores of the largest lake in all the Americas. Lake Maracaibo is the oldest religious building in the most important city in western Venezuela, right at the top of South America. The Santo Cristo de Aranza church was erected on a small hill on Los Atikos Avenue in Maracaibo in the mid 16th century. This was a privileged place to spot the boats that sailed through those waters in the years that followed the so called discovery of Venezuela by Spanish sailors. Historians claim that the small temple with its white facade was built between 1535 and 1555 and was built with materials such as palm trees and straw. It features a gabled roof and wooden doors from several centuries ago. It's small compared to other nearby churches such as the Basilica of La Chinita and the Cathedral of Maracaibo. It can only hold around 150 people and barely fits a rectangular floor plan and a single nave. The name Santo Cristo de Arenza comes from the image of the crucified Son of God that was recovered by the local indigenous people almost 500 years ago after being shipwrecked in the waters below. The story goes that those who lived on the shores of Lake Maracaibo saw a large wooden box fall from a Spanish galleon that was sailing near the Venezuelan shores. The wooden caisson floated into a system of tunnels that crossed under the hill where the chapel stands today, right near the beach. The church has not only been a shelter for faith, but in the War of Independence more than two centuries ago, that small temple in Maracaibo served as a depot for weapons and uniforms for the patriot troops who fought to free themselves from the domination of the Kingdom of Spain. Restorations occurred in 1969 by the architect Graciano Gasparini, and a few years ago it also received maintenance in its internal and external architecture. Its walls today display ancient art frescoes where the figures of the four Evangelists of Christ can be seen. In its spaces lie the tombs of families who died at the end of the 19th century, such as the guru Siaga, original owners of the land where the chapel is today, and clerics of the church, such as Fray Maximiliano de Finestra, who died in 1884 from those old days. There is also a wooden puppet and a harmonium and the score of the Venezuelan bagpipe San Sebastian. The Santo Cristo de Aranza church is so important to the religious memory of Maracaibo that it was decreed in 1960 as a national monument. From its bosom, its sacred image comes out annually, adorned with flowers and decorations, to be the epicenter of the massive procession of the local Catholic church every Holy Thursday. In the distance, on that hill, Santo Cristo de Are Anza can still be seen small but forever giants. For Catholic devotion and the history of Venezuela itself.
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Tall Stories is a Monocle production from the team behind the Urbanist. This episode was written by Gustavo Acando Alex and produced and edited by David Stevens. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes every week. I'm Andrew Tuck. Goodbye and thank you for listening. City Lovers.