Read this page in Spanish
..
Our historic building - the Verle
L. Annis history
The building in which Nicolas is located, is one of the most
historic in Antigua.
Nicolas and the building next door, were the chapel and entrance to the Hospital Real de Santiago, constructed by Bishop
Francisco Marroquín in 1553, managed by the religious order of San Juan de Dios. The hospital chapel,
where Nicolas now is, was inaugurated in 1647 and reconstructed after the damage caused by the earthquake of
1651, changing the wooden roof for a vault ... you san see the chapel facade in the photo below ... read more
below.
The building in which Nicolas is located, is one of the most historic in Antigua.
Nicolas and the building next door, were the chapel and entrance to the Hospital Real de Santiago, constructed by Bishop Francisco Marroquín in 1553, managed by the religious order of San Juan de Dios. The hospital chapel, where Nicolas now is, was inaugurated in 1647 and reconstructed after the damage caused by the earthquake of 1651, changing the wooden roof for a vault ... you san see the chapel facade in the photo below ... read more below.
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... an extract from "The Architecture of Antigua, Guatemala 1543-1773" by Verle L.Annis, about the Hospital San Juan de Dios and a map of Antigua that shows our building
... or click here to go to the previous page, with an article by José María Magaña, architect and historian, in the April 2008 "RECREARTE"
SAN JUAN DE DIOS, MONASTERY AND HOSPITALS
San Juan de Dios was the sixth monastery established in Santiago, but its function was different from those which came earlier.
Founded in 1636, the brothers of St. John of Good took over the operation of the Royal Hospital of St. James which was built by Bishop Marroquín in 1553. The King had accepted the patronage of this hospital on November 29, 1559 and designated an annual sum to its maintenance. It served the Spaniards and creoles only. At the time that it passed to the direction of San Juan de Dios it was small and inadequate.
The limitations and rules set forth for the Brothers of San Juan de Dios were very specific. There could be no more brothers than necessary for the care of the sick, with one or two extra in case of death or illness of one of them.
Their number was to be determined by civil authorities according to needs, alms, number of cases, et cetera. One or two of the number could be priests to say mass, administer sacraments, and supervise the quantity and quality of the food in the hospital.
They were not to have a monastery capable of giving habits to those who might wish to join. They were subject to inspection by civil authorities, required to give accounts of income ever year or oftener, and were cautioned to remember that they were not owners but were there to administer to the ill, that they were not permitted to change buildings, nor to build a church, cells, or cloisters for themselves. They were to make only those repairs or constructions suited to a hospital and dwelling for the brothers, and this only after consultation with the governor and other civil authorities.
The modest church, or chapel, of the hospital was inaugurated in 1647, and after being badly damaged in 1651, was completely reconstructed with a barrel vault.
As José
María Magaña explains
on the other page, note, above the
white house, what appears to be the facad of the hospital
chapel. The white house stands on what would have been the
courtyard, and atrium which led to the entry and the chapel of the
hospital. Click to see a much larger photo.
Even before the Hospital of St. James was founds, the Dominicans had been interested in giving medical aid to the Indians and, according to Juarros, had established a small hospital for Indians in the Candelaria district.
This was later transferred to a site near the monastery. So many Indians came to this hospital that it lacked space and funds to carry on, and the King granted financial aid in 1559. Both the Bishop and the King tried to unite the two hospitals, but the Indians refused to be treated in the same building with the Spaniards. The Hospital of the Indians, San Alejo, however, was placed under the direction of San Juan de Dios in 1667. The union of San Alejo with the Royal Hospital of St. James was finally accomplished by a royal edict in 1685. By this time the latter hospital was commonly known as San Juan de Dios. Additional houses and property were purchased adjacent to the original site to allow for expansion. The Indians were housed in a separate ward, and other facilities were improved. But documents in the archives show that San Juan de Dios had only twenty-four beds in 1687, when the City was asked for financial aid to construct new buildings.
Our building is on the Verne L.Annis map.
Click to see a much larger image, and note the space, the atrium
that
José María
Magaña talks about, where would have been the entry to the chapel
and to the hospital, through the building where Nicolas is today.
This hospital, which faced the Street of Concepción in the third block east of the Royal Plaza, was destined to expand rapidly after this date.
Eventually it covered the entire over-sized block with two great patios and two smaller ones, long corridors, many ample wards for the ill, and the necessary dependencies in addition to a chapel and quarters for the brothers. Much of the building was of two stories, and it is said that there were six fountains and an abundance of water.
Ruins of the
Hospital San Juan de Dios, on the corners
of
3rd Avenida and 3rd
Street, a block north of Nicolas. As Verle Annis explains
above, "in time, it covered the entire block".
Click to see a much larger image.
Photograph: Rudy
A. Girón/antiguadailyphoto.com
The earthquake of 1773 destroyed this great edifice, but many of its walls are still standing in ruin while others have been altered and incorporated by twentieth century owners to meet residential and business needs.
Coffee and citrus trees grow in the midst of crumbling walls in the
northern portion of the ruins. There is very little remaining
visible, except massive walls, to identify it either as a monastery
or hospital.
"The
Architecture of Antigua, Guatemala 1543-1773" by Verle L.Annis,
1968. Photo of the map, thanks to
CIRMA.
... or click here to go to the previous page, with an article by José María Magaña,
architect and historian, in the April 2008 "RECREARTE"
In addition to the Marroquín historical marker, outside our entrance, there is this interesting marker, that speaks about Dr.Manuel Avalos y Porras.