Alto Vista Chapel: Go Back in Time at Aruba’s First Church
The story of this quaint, cute, and colorfully cozy little church in Aruba makes me think of The Little Train That Could. It’s officially called the Alto Vista Chapel, though it also known as the “Pilgrims Church.” It’s notable in that it holds the distinction of being Aruba‘s very first Catholic church. By all rights, though, it probably shouldn’t exist anymore.
Alto Vista Chapel History
The church dates back to 1750, though the structure you can visit today represents a major upgrade from the humble stone walls and straw roof that constituted the original. That old Alto Vista is said to have been built by Spanish pioneers working together with Caqueito Indians. Of course, the penchant among early European explorers toward enslaving and murdering the indigenous people they encountered on their journeys has me a bit skeptical about the “harmonious” nature of their working relationship.
Anyway, one of these Spanish pioneers was a man named Domingo Antonio Silvestre. He not only founded the church, he completely funded its construction.
All was good for a time. Domingo, and later his descendants, taught the Rosary to the Caqueito. Additional priests came over from Venezuela three times each year to perform weddings, baptisms, and other Catholic services. Things were smooth for nearly 30 years.
Then tragedy struck.
The Plague
You don’t often hear of the plague associated with Caribbean history, but yeah, we had it in the islands too. Its effect on Alto Vista was profound. Scores of area residents died. Those who didn’t, escaped to other parts of Aruba, leaving the old church abandoned.
It stayed that way for more than 100 years. Then, a local Aruban school teacher with the tenacity of a certain train set about restoring the historical treasure.
While leading her students on a hiking trip in the Alto Vista area, Francisca Enriques Lacle came across the scant remains of the old chapel. Inspired, she petitioned the local Bishop for funds to rebuild. He initially said no, but after spearheading a bit of fundraising and petitioning again, Francisca got her way.
Alto Vita Chapel Today
The Alto Vista Chapel of today was rebuilt in 1952 and painted bright yellow. Services are held once-a-week on Tuesdays when a priest from the nearby town of Noord comes over to perform mass. Christians and non-Christians are welcome for services, or anytime you might want to enjoy some quiet meditation in one of Aruba’s most sacred spots.
Tip: Get here early in the morning, or late in the afternoon to avoid the tourist hordes.
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