San José Church, Catholic church in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
San José Church is a Catholic place of worship in Old San Juan featuring Spanish Gothic architectural elements visible in its brick walls and detailed masonry. The interior showcases vaulted ceilings that create an expansive sense of space.
Construction took place between 1528 and 1735 under the Dominican Order, and the church held the remains of Juan Ponce de León beginning in 1559. These remains were transferred elsewhere in 1836.
The painted murals on the interior walls include a nineteenth-century depiction of the Battle of Lepanto that was discovered during restoration work. These artworks reflect the spiritual devotion that visitors sense when entering the church.
The building underwent comprehensive restoration that was completed in March 2021 to address structural issues. Plan your visit for times outside of services, as the church remains active for worship.
The building features rare Isabelline Gothic vaults built using Catalan construction techniques that represent early Spanish colonial engineering in the Americas. These building methods were unusual for the region and make the church an important example of sixteenth-century construction practices.
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