Three blocks west of Santa Fe's Plaza is the "Santaurio de Guadalupe" (Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe), the oldest standing shrine in the U.S. Built along the banks of the Santa Fe River in 1777, it commemorates the 1531 visions of Mary to Aztec peasant Juan Diego of Tapeyca, Mexico. Originally, it had three foot thick Adobe walls, a dirt floor, and a three-tiered bell tower. Because of disrepair, the church was closed in 1826 until renovations could be completed. A 1922 fire destroyed the roof and bell tower. These were subsequently replaced. Again, because of deterioration, the church was closed in 1961, until new restorations could be completed. Due to a growing congregation, a larger church was constructed on an adjacent lot. The original chapel remains active but also serves as an art and history museum. One of its treasures is the largest oil painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Spanish Southwest. Painted in 1783 by Jose de Alzibar, it is on the wall behind the altar and depicts Our Lady of Guadalupe surrounded by images of the visions she gave to Juan Diego. Outside the chapel is a walking path with six tiled mosaics, created by artist Arlene Cisneros Sena, illustrating the 1531 apparitions of Mary. The newest addition (2009) to the shrine is a twelve foot statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the courtyard. We passed by this shrine everyday on our way to the center of Santa Fe, so, of course we had to explore it. It is an interesting place.
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