Capilla del Cristo, San Juan

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There are many legends surrounding the construction of this little chapel located at the bottom of Calle del Cristo. Many have to do with a young man who, during a fiesta in 1753, took a fall over the city walls and into the bay of San Juan. In some stories, the young man survives and builds the chapel to thank God for miraculously saving his life. In others, he dies, and it's the family who builds the chapel so they would have a place to pray for his soul and also to block the bottom of the street to prevent such accidents from happening again. Whatever the true story is, the Capilla del Cristo is a charming little church, beautifully decorated. Unfortunately, it is only open to visitors on Tuesdays from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. The rest of the week, it's possible to look inside through the iron gates that block its entrance.

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This Chapel built in 16th century has a few interesting stories surrounding the history of which conflicts wildly except on one point.

Someone on horseback took a terrible spill off the cliffs at the end of Calle Cristo. Whether he lived, and the chapel was built to commemorate the miracle, or whether he died and the chapel was to block off the street and prevent such an accident from happening again, is the part of the story that is in dispute.

The beautiful Campeche paintings and altar inside can be seen through the church's glass doors.