Ermita San Antonio De Padua De La Tuna — Attraction in Isabela

These are left over ruins from a church that was built many years ago. The day of my visit they where closed. So I need to make another trip at this location again in the near future. I would like to know if there's more information on what happened to this church, the church members and the town itself.

You get some information from the posted signs outside but that is limited.

I have a hard time with how history has unfolded about the Spaniards/Conquistadors. In how they came to Borikén/Puerto Rico and did the things they did. School officials don't teach the truth about our past. Yet I have tried to empower myself with the truth about our Tainos ancestors and culture. Me personally as a Christian man to know what was done to our ancestors in the "so called name of Jesus" was hurtful to learn. Religion or a relationship with God/Jesus are two very different feelings. What was done back then, was not of God but from the evil of mans heart....

Before the first quarter of the 1700, only the native people (Tainos) lived in the northwest region of Puerto Rico. However, around 1725 the first Spanish settlers moved into the Isabela area, which they originally called La Tuna. Between 1725-1750, they built a church (hermitage in English or ermita in Spanish) called “San Antonio de Padua”, and a community near the Guajataca river. Over time, it was decided to abandon the town and move closer to the ocean, where the town of Isabela is located today.

The ruins of the original church have been preserved for future generations with help from the Mabodamaca Corporation, and it is listed on the US National Register of...

If you want to see a part of religous and native taino history in PR you should visit this small museum. It has the remains of the very first church in the area and holds a rich culture . They display it with movies, photos even artifacts. It is a must see. I took my two teenage sons to learn and value our history. The educator was awesome and shared many facts and demonstrated vintage artifacts belonging to the church. We recommend that you leave a donation and buy items feom their snack shop. This is a non-profit organization and jewel to the...