El Convento de Santo Domingo de Porta Coeli — Attraction in San Germán

In 1609, the Dominican Order 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.[3] In 1949 Ubaldino Ramírez de Arellano, Monseñor Mac Manus, Bishop of Ponce, Senator Santiago R. Palmer and others arranged for the church of Porta Coeli in San German to be sold to the Government of Puerto Rico for a dollar so that it would be responsible for its safekeeping and preservation.[4] After restoration by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, the church now houses the Museo de Arte Religioso. This is a museum of religious paintings and wooden carvings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. The building was listed in 1976 on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as "Convento de...

The name means the Heavens Gate. It was used for religious services, until it was converted into a museum that have wonderful art pieces. It's always a lovely experience to visit the oldest church in the Western Hemisphere. Tha architecture is so unique that still standing after hundreds of years. So many stories to tell, so much history in just one particular place. It's connected with tunnels that connects all the underground city. There was a rumour that over there are skeletons of babies and womans. Also there's a legend related to the gold bell that was robbed and people still looking for it. Several stories from locals that claim that hear noises and see things like a woman with a black dress...

Porta Coeli, Gates of Heaven. In 1609 the Dominican Order built the Convent Porta Coeli at the crest of the hill in the historic town of San Germán (Saint Germain). The famous church building, first established as a chapel overlooking a small town square. In 1996, Governor Pedro Rosselló declared it as a Religious Art Museum, as it is today. San Germán is a beautiful town that keeps Spaniards colonialism architecture. There are many House Museums related to the San Germán historic past. The people are kind and friendly. In the meantime you are there, don't forget to enjoy a delicious coffee at "Me Latte...