Church of San Mateo de Cangrejos of Santurce, Catholic church in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Church of San Mateo de Cangrejos is a Catholic church building in Santurce featuring two square towers and a brick dome crowning the sanctuary at the highest point in the neighborhood. The building sits at the intersection of San Jorge Street and Eduardo Conde Avenue, with curved steps leading to the south-facing main entrance.
The building was originally constructed in 1832 as a chapel and underwent major reconstruction in 1896 under architect Pedro Cobreros. This work expanded the interior space and redesigned the facade, transforming how the structure appeared to the community.
The interior displays painted panels in the dome pendentives and sanctuary walls, showing religious artwork created across different time periods. These works allow visitors to see how artistic traditions evolved within this sacred space.
The main entrance sits on the south side, accessed by the curved steps at the corner of San Jorge and Eduardo Conde. Visitors should be prepared for uneven transitions inside, as the structure incorporates elements from different construction phases.
The floor features marble tiles arranged diagonally from the main axis, preserving the original layout of the sanctuary area. This historic floor pattern contrasts with later additions like air conditioning that were introduced without altering the tile work.
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