Dominican friars built the Convento de Porta Coeli in 1609 at the crest of a hill in what is now San Germán. During the 18th century the Convento was reconstructed and a church built next to it. The single nave church was constructed of rubble masonry with stucco surfaced walls and a dramatic wood truss roof. Today, only ruins--a gable-end wall and belfry attached to the church--remain of the old Convento. Restored in 1960, the Converto de Porta Coeli now houses a Religious Art Museum.

The Convento de Porta Coeli is located in the Plaza Porta Coeli at Ramas and Dr. Veve sts. in the San Germán Historic District in San Germàn, Puerto Rico. The museum is open Thursday-Sunday, 9:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm; closed holidays. Call 809-892-5845 for further information. Convento de Porta Coeli has also been documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey.

Information and photos courtesy of the National Register for Historic Places Puerto Rico Travel Itinerary, a subsidiary of the National Park Service.

Credits and Sources:

Nancy Cox, Undergraduate Student, University of West Florida