Junín residents clean historic chapel after earthquakes
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The Junín Regional Directorate of Culture in Peru organised a second cleanup day at the historic chapel El Copón in Chongos Bajo, bringing together around 100 local residents.
This effort followed earthquakes in the Chupaca province and aimed to preserve the chapel, which dates back to around 1750. Dominican friars originally built El Copón as part of their evangelisation work, funding its upkeep with income from a mill.
The chapel has undergone changes throughout its history, including alterations to the altars in 1815 and a facade tower reconstruction in 2010. The Directorate of Culture coordinated with the Chongos Bajo and Cuarto Cuartel communities to strengthen collaboration between local government and residents. Javier Rojas, director of the Junín Regional Directorate of Culture, noted that the strong community involvement demonstrated how protecting cultural heritage improves when institutions and communities work together.
This cleanup adds to other efforts by the Ministry of Culture and local people to maintain cultural sites in Chongos Bajo.
