The Porta Coeli: San Germán's very own landmark
The Porta Coeli, San Germán's landmark, is one of the oldest Churches still standing and used today. It was built in 1606 and declared a national monument in 1930. Porta Coeli is Latin for "Doors to Heaven".
It was a small convent attended by a small group of Monks. It was abandoned at the beginnings of the 19th century due to it's lack of maintenance and it's proximity to the Guanajibo River, besides, the city had the more impressive and newly opened San Germán de Auxerre church.
During the last years of the 19th century and the beginnings of the 20th century, it was used from time to time by the Catholic Church while the Auxerre Church was being remodeled.
Porta Coeli Church stands proudly atop one of San German's hills in the middle of the Historic District.
This Catholic temple is a remarkable example of the architecture of the New World missions. The temple is rectangular, with a square altar. The ceiling is covered in roof tile hold together by wood from palm trees. The ceiling architecture shows the fusion of Spanish architecture and new, West Indies style. Inside, it has columns made of different types of wood, creating the impression that the temple is made out of three rectangular sections.
The stairs to the temple adds to the grandeur of the building, making it appear larger and higher. It is located atop one of the city's hills, and overlooks all of the streets and squares of the surrounding area. It gives a sensation of harmony between landscape and structure.
After it was declared a National Monument in 1930, it was restored as good as the funds would allow. But in the late 40's, the deterioration was such that the Puerto Rican government created a law (Ley 75, 1940) authorizing the government to buy the structure from the Catholic Church for the price of One Dollar. Immediately after it was bought, some urgent repairs were done. Years later it was given as a donation to the then newly created Institute of Puerto Rican culture, which restored the building in the late 1960's, from the year 1979 to 1981, and recently in 1993 in occasion of it's entrance to the National Registry of Historic Sites in Washington D.C. , together with the whole lot of Downtown San Germán.
Bronze slate commemorating the Porta Coeli's inclusion in the NHS Registry and it's 4th and last restoration.
In 1993, the city of San Germán were astonished to see their landmark, which was known for centuries for it's white color, turned orange. The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture declared that after an expensive and careful study of the church, it was discovered that it's original color was a "mud orange". After ten years of it's fresh painting, the city has grown accustomed to it's new coloration.
In this year, the restoration's aim was more to stabilize the terrain where the church sits, since in the 4 centuries San Germán has stood in it's current place, the hill suffered changes such as the creation of surrounding parks and parking space which threatened the building.
The broken wall you see on the left side of the building was the front wall of the Monastery accompanying the church in the 18th century. It was demolished by the river, which by that time ran along the hill. Today, the Guanajibo River runs from a safe distance of one hectometer from the hill.
The destroyed adjacent convent building, now one of our symbols as a city.
This church is host to many stories and legends, but if you want to find more about this remarkable monument, you may visit it from Wednesdays to Sundays from 8:30am to 5:00pm Atlantic Standard Time. Tuesdays and Mondays are closed for the general public.
Copyright Ó 2003 - Michael González Casiano
Pictures and maps in this website have been taken from different websites and books, except for the pictures taken by the Webmaster during February and March 2003 where stated. Information has been taken from different sources and may not be accurate.
