Gardens of the Former National Congress

This quiet garden, next to the old Congress building, hides the greatest tragedy in Santiago's history. The Jesuit Church of the Compañía de Jesús once stood here.

1The night of 8 December 1863

It was the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which closed the Month of Mary. The church was packed, mostly with women and children, and lit by thousands of candles and paraffin lamps among drapes and paper flowers. At about a quarter to seven in the evening, a light set fire to the decorations of the high altar and the flames climbed to the roof.

Panic did the rest. Wide crinoline dresses made escape difficult; people fell at the doors and were trapped. In little more than an hour the church lay in ruins. A court ruling of 1864 spoke of "nearly two thousand" dead, in a city of about a hundred thousand inhabitants.

2What rose from the ashes

A few days later, on the initiative of José Luis Claro, the Santiago Fire Brigade was founded, and it is still a volunteer force today. The ruins were demolished and this garden was planted in their place.

In the debris, letters were found that devout women had addressed to the Virgin through a mailbox in the church. They were never published, and the mystery of their contents fuelled rumours for years.

In 1873 a monument by Carrier-Belleuse was unveiled here; it was later moved to the General Cemetery. Its place is now taken by a marble praying Virgin by José Miguel Blanco.

3What to look for

• The praying Virgin with her angels, in memory of the victims.
• The iron street lamps with figures, brought from France around 1890.
• The corner of Compañía and Bandera, where the church facade stood.