"This 16th century church in San Pedro is one of the oldest churches in Chile. Its roof was thatched with local cactus wood held on with large leather straps. The interesting church interior displays an altar built of mud bricks; I found its simplicity rather beautiful.
 
Though the valley had been inhabited for many years by the local Indians, the town as it is today was not established 'till the mid 16th century, when the Spanish explorer San Pedro Valdivia arrived from Peru with a small expedition force of soldiers and settlers." - MH