Capilla del Cristo facts for kids
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Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud
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| Alternative names | Capilla del Cristo |
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Quick facts for kids General information |
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| Architectural style | Baroque |
| Town or city | Old San Juan |
| Construction started | 1753 |
| Construction stopped | 1780 |
| Renovated | 1940s |
| Owner | Catholic Church |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Masonry |
| Floor count | 1 |
| Design and construction | |
| Engineer | Juan Francisco Mestre |
| Known for | Folklore, historic architecture |
The Capilla del Cristo (which means Chapel of Christ) is also known as Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud. It is a small chapel and museum in the historic part of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. This special building was constructed in the 1700s. It has become a very important symbol of Puerto Rico's culture. In the 1900s, it was saved from being torn down. Many of the items found on its altar date back to 1753. Travel guides often list the Capilla del Cristo as a must-see spot in Old San Juan.
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Why is Capilla del Cristo Important?
This chapel, with its bell tower (called a belfry), is found in the Old San Juan Historic District. It sits at the very end of a street called Calle del Cristo. This street is now only for people walking, so no cars drive through. Pictures of the chapel's front are very popular. You might even see them on the cover of travel guides about Puerto Rico! Many famous photo companies have images of the chapel. This means its iconic look can be found on posters, canvas prints, and even souvenir mugs.
Inside the chapel, you can see paintings by a famous artist named Jose Campeche. There's also a painting by Jorge Sen called El Milagro, which means "The Miracle." The altar inside the chapel is made of shiny silver and gold.
Where is Capilla del Cristo Located?
The chapel is at the end of Cristo Street. This street is made of old cobblestones. It's in the historic area of Old San Juan. The chapel is not far from La Fortaleza. La Fortaleza is the official home of the governor of Puerto Rico.
What Does Capilla del Cristo Look Like?
The chapel is built using a method called mampostería ordinaria. This means it's made of stones held together with mortar or cement. It's a one-story building made of brick and stone. On top, it has a curved bell tower. A metal gate was added in the 1940s to help protect the inside of the chapel.
The chapel has three large arches. These arches open up to the Parque de Palomas (Pigeon Park), Tetuan Street, and Calle de Cristo de la Salud. The building was designed in the Spanish Baroque style. Juan Francisco Mestre is given credit for its design. A group of volunteers called the Cristo de la Salud Brotherhood helps keep the building in good shape.
The Legend of Capilla del Cristo
There's a famous religious story, especially among Catholics, about how the chapel came to be. The story says that a long time ago, a horse race was happening on the street. A young rider and his horse took a bad fall. The rider went over a cliff, but he was amazingly saved!
The chapel was built right where this accident supposedly happened. It was built to honor the young rider, whose name was Baltazar Montañez. Or, some say it was built to stop more accidents from happening there. Either way, it has become a popular place for tourists to visit. It's also a stop for religious pilgrims. These pilgrims sometimes leave a religious votive (a special offering) at the chapel. The chapel is only open to visitors on Tuesdays.
There are different versions of this legend. Some say the rider himself called for help from above. Others say an observer named Tomas Mateo Pratts yelled for divine help. In a book about Puerto Rican legends, José Ramirez-Rivera writes that the horse died, but Baltazar lived. After this event, permission was given to build the Catholic chapel. Many festivals have been held at this spot over the years to celebrate the miracle.
A Puerto Rican historian named Cayetano Coll y Toste wrote about Baltazar. He described Baltazar as a slave who worked in the sugar cane fields of Puerto Rico. However, he didn't mention the legendary accident in his writings.
Gallery
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Capilla del Cristo de la Salud in 2019
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Men sitting at table in front of the chapel
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Facade of chapel
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Silver altar inside the chapel
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Historic American Buildings surveyed in 1933, photograph of Capilla del Cristo at Calle del Cristo and Tetuan Streets in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico filed in the Library of Congress archives
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Intersection of Calle del Cristo and Calle San Sebastián
Images for kids
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Bell tower
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At the other end of Calle del Cristo
