Iglesia de la Merced, Costa Rica
Visit one of San José’s most visited spots and one of the most iconic churches, the iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Merced
Iglesia de la Merced
© Anita GuzFer
The iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Merced is also known by the locals as just “Iglesia de la Merced”. It is one of the most visited places in San José due to its architectural and religious attraction.
Iglesia de la Merced, San José
© Anita GuzFer
The building is a Catholic temple dedicated to the Virgen de las Mercedes and has a neo-Gothic architecture. It stands out the main tower that has a German Gothic style, with a wonderful view to Braulio Carrillo Park (La Merced Park), where it is located.
It was built in 1894 by the engineer Lesmes Jiménez Bonnefil and the architect Jaime Carranza. It was declared to be part of the historical and architectural heritage of Costa Rica in 1996 and it is one of the greatest icons of San José.
You can contemplate the vast nave with high columns and its fine main altar. It also has a statue of the virgin who gives the name to the church, and there you can contemplate one of the most appreciated and valuable images of the city: the Cristo Agonizante (the dying Christ). This image is a work by the artist Manuel María Zúñiga, that had to paint a nude portrait of himself in order to sculpt the figure of Christ. Besides, you can contemplate the paintings by the artist Adriano Arié and his three stained glass windows that depict the Virgin of Mercy.
More information:
Location:
2nd and 4th Avenues and 10th and 12th Streets, in the Hospital District, San José.
Recommended Excursions:
Interactive Map:
San José
What to see:
- Parque Metropolitano La Sabana Park
- Parque Morazán Park
- Parque Nacional Park
- Parque Diversiones Park
- Parque España Park
- Central Park
- Parque Zoológico Simón Bolívar Zoo
- Spirogyra Butterfly Garden
- Parque de la Paz Park
- Parque Okayama Park
- Parque de la Merced Park
- Mercado Central
- Mercado Borbón Market
- Casa Amarilla
- Edificio Metálico
- Universidad de Costa Rica
- Edificio Luis Ollé Building
- Former Atlantic Train Station
- Alianza Francesa
- Edificio Maroy Building
- Edificio Herdocia Building
- Biblioteca Nacional
- Iglesia de la Merced
- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Church
- Barrio Amón Neighbourhood
- Distrito Escazú District
- Teatro Nacional
- Teatro Melico Salazar Theatre
- Galería Nacional
- Teatro Auditorio Nacional
- Centro Costarricense de Ciencia y Cultura Centre
- Banco Central
- Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica
- Avenida Central
- Paseo Colón
- Catedral Metropolitana Cathedral
- Plaza de la Cultura
- Plaza de la Democracia
- Bulevar Ricardo Jiménez Boulevard
- Plaza de la Libertad Electoral
- Castillo Azul
- Fuente Hispanidad Fountain
- Teatro Variedades Theatre
- Plaza Juan Mora Fernández
Museums:
- Museo del Jade
- Gold Museum
- Museo de Numismática
- Museo Nacional de Costa Rica
- Museo Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia Historical Museum
- Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo
- Museo de la Comunidad Judía de Costa Rica
- TEOR/ética
- Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle
- Museo Rafael Obregón Loría Masonic Museum Grand Lodge
- Children´s Museum
- Museo del Arte Costarricense
- Museo Filatélico y Numismático Museum
- Museo Histórico Agrícola Santa Ana Museum
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