Porta Coeli
Encyclopedia
Porta Coeli Convent church, or El Convento de Santo Domingo de Porta Coeli in Spanish, is one of the oldest church structures in the western hemisphere
located in San Germán, Puerto Rico
.
built the Convento de Porta Coeli at the crest of a hill in what is now San Germán Historic District
. During the 18th century the Convento was reconstructed and a church built next to it. The single nave
church was constructed of rubble masonry with stucco surfaced walls and a wood truss roof.
In 1949 Ubaldino Ramírez de Arellano
, Monseñor Mac Manus, Bishop of Ponce, Senator Santiago R. Palmer and others achieved that for a dollar the church of Porta Coeli in San German be sold to the Government of Puerto Rico so that it be responsible for its safekeeping and preservation.
It was restored by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and now houses the Museo de Arte Religioso, a museum of religious paintings and wooden carvings dating back from the 18th and 19th centuries. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
as "Convento de Porta Coeli" in 1976.
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
located in San Germán, Puerto Rico
San Germán, Puerto Rico
San Germán is a municipality located in the southwestern region of Puerto Rico, south of Mayagüez and Maricao; north of Lajas; east of Hormigueros and Cabo Rojo; and west of Sabana Grande. San Germán is spread over 18 wards and San Germán Pueblo...
.
History
In 1609, the Dominican OrderDominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
built the Convento de Porta Coeli at the crest of a hill in what is now San Germán Historic District
San Germán Historic District
San Germán Historic District is located in the western section of the town of San Germán, Puerto Rico. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 1994...
. During the 18th century the Convento was reconstructed and a church built next to it. The single nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
church was constructed of rubble masonry with stucco surfaced walls and a wood truss roof.
In 1949 Ubaldino Ramírez de Arellano
Ubaldino Ramírez de Arellano
Ubaldino Ramírez de Arellano Quiñones was born in San Germán, Puerto Rico. He was a dentist, congressman and he was known as the father of Basketball in San German. His parents were José Ubaldino Ramírez de Arellano Lugo and María Matilde Quiñones Quiñones. While in university he joined Phi Sigma...
, Monseñor Mac Manus, Bishop of Ponce, Senator Santiago R. Palmer and others achieved that for a dollar the church of Porta Coeli in San German be sold to the Government of Puerto Rico so that it be responsible for its safekeeping and preservation.
It was restored by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and now houses the Museo de Arte Religioso, a museum of religious paintings and wooden carvings dating back from the 18th and 19th centuries. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as "Convento de Porta Coeli" in 1976.
External links
- Museo de Arte Religioso Santo Domingo de Porta Coeli, Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (Spanish).
- Museum information with photos