Capilla del Cristo

''Capilla del Cristo'' (Chapel of Christ), also called is a small chapel / museum located in the Old San Juan Historic District of Puerto Rico. Built in the 18th century and saved from demolition in the 20th century, the structure has become a cultural icon of Puerto Rico. Most of the articles located at its altar are from 1753. Travel guides list as one of the must-see places of Old San Juan.

Cultural significance

The chapel with its belfry is located at the end of , a pedestrian walkway in the Old San Juan Historic District in the western section of San Juan Islet. Images of the chapel's facade are quite popular, and sometimes featured on the covers of Puerto Rican travel guides as well as on canvas prints, posters, and mug souvenirs.

Inside the chapel are paintings by Jose Campeche and a painting by Jorge Sen called (English: The Miracle). Its altar is made of silver and gold.

The St. Juan and St. Peter races, () is an annual festival that's taken place on Cristo Street near Capilla del Cristo since before the mid 19th century.

Location

Capilla del Cristo is located at the end of Cristo Street in the Historic District of Old San Juan near La Fortaleza, the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico.

Architecture

The basic structure of the small temple is or stones held together by mortar or cement. It's a one-story-high, brick and stone structure with a curved belfry atop. Its gate was added in the 1940s for the protection of its interior. It has three oversized arches which open up to the , Tetuan Street, and Calle de Cristo de la Salud (street). Built in the Spanish Baroque style, Juan Francisco Metre is credited with its design. The building has been kept in good condition by the volunteer group Cristo de la Salud Brotherhood.

Folklore

Religious folklore, particularly among Catholics, said that during a horse race on ''La Calle de Cristo'', a young rider and his horse took a bad fall. The rider went over the precipice but was miraculously saved.

The chapel was built where the fateful race was said to have occurred in honor of the young rider named Baltazar Montañez. It has become both a tourist attraction as well as a stop for religious pilgrims, who occasionally leave a religious votive at the chapel. It is only open on Tuesdays.

Different versions of the legend mention that either the rider or Tomas Mateo Pratts, an observer yelled for divine intervention. In a book about Puerto Rican legends, José Ramirez-Rivera writes that the horse was killed but Baltazar lived. Afterwards, permission was granted to build the Catholic chapel and festivals were held for years afterward to celebrate the miracle.

In his writings about Baltazar, Puerto Rican historian Cayetano Coll y Toste described him as a slave who worked in the sugar cane fields of Puerto Rico but made no mention of the legendary accident.

Gallery

Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud.jpg, in 2019
Restaurant near Capilla del Cristo - San Juan, Puerto Rico.JPG, Men sitting at table in front of the chapel
Capilla del Cristo Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico.jpg, Facade of chapel
Capilla del Cristo - San Juan, Puerto Rico - DSC07138.JPG, Silver altar inside the chapel
Historic American Buildings Survey. - Capilla del Cristo, Cristo and Tetuan Streets, San Juan, San Juan Municipio, PR HABS PR,7-SAJU,2-5.tif, Historic American Buildings surveyed in 1933, photograph of at and Tetuan Streets in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico filed in the Library of Congress archives
Chapel San Juan IMG 0465dd.jpg, Bell tower
Buildings on Calle del Cristo, San Juan, Puerto Rico.jpg, At the other end of

See also

* Irish immigration to Puerto Rico

References

External links

Location of Capilla del Cristo on map of Old San Juan

History of the chapel on a Catholic channel on YouTube

Harmonica music played outside of {{lang, es, Capilla del Cristo

*
Buildings and structures in San Juan, Puerto Rico
History of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tourist attractions in San Juan, Puerto Rico