Brutal. concrete, San Salvador.

Iglesia El Rosario
My first words, " That's not a fucking church"

Ho Hum, how wrong can one be, I now ask myself. Designed by sculptor Ruben Martinez, the construction took several years, opening in 1971. More learned men than I say it resembles that of a brutalist Stalinist building of the era, others applaud its radical architecture.

The architect did not have much ground space to work with as it is built on the site of a previous wooden Cathedral that burnt down.

Unlike other catholic churches , that are built in a form of a cross shape, this one isn't, it also has it's altar to the north not the east

What the guide won't tell you, about the events here: is he ashamed of his past? I only found this out during my write up.

In February 1977, several days of demonstration against the government had taken place, with protesters occupying the main square of San Salvador, culminating in the National Guard opening fire on the protesters. When the shooting began many of the demonstrators took refuge in El Rosario church, situated alongside the plaza. For three days the wounded and dead were trapped inside.

A truce was brokered by the retiring Archbishop Chavez and his fellow clergy, so that the church could be evacuated of the dead and wounded, and of others who had sought protection there from the bullets and tear gas. Reports of the number of dead vary from scores to over a hundred.

Source

The inconspicuous entrance is tucked away down a small walkway on the side of the building where to enter, one can leave a donation pay an obligatory entrance fee.

So paying the agreed fee, enter we did.

Ladies and Gentlemen
The FUCK ME! moment

The arched roof, is known as the "stairway to heaven" (cue Led Zep!)

Constructed using limited materials, concrete, brick and glass, just over 25 yds wide and 82 yds long, it is a remarkable piece of architecture and engineering, built east to west, thus creating a spectacle of rainbow coloured reflections; light coming in from the east in the morning or from the west in the afternoon.

There are no supporting pillars.

Now I can see why it is arguably said to be the finest church in all of Central America.

Non-typical scenes from the Via Crucis, can be found along the walls.

I do not know which each represents, but jeez, I had to stand back and applaud the designer, so minimalist, and forward thinking, the guy is a genius.

Each individual construction is formed from the left over bits of ironwork and concrete from the cathedral construction.

A "deconstructed" resurrected jesus