Page 7 - aruba-today-20231017

a7
local Tuesday 17 OcTOber 2023
Alto Vista chapel and its link to Aruba’s origins

(Oranjestad)—According
to Etnia Nativa, in the 18th
century most of the inhabit-
ants of Aruba were indige-
nous who lived on the north
coast, one of the largest
communities lived in Alto
Vista.

As they were very religious,
they had a chief with the
name of Antonio Silvester
who guided them in the
Christian life and it was he
who decided to build a
stone chapel with a roof
of corn rods, which would Silvester would have lived.
serve as a place of prayer. About 200 meters from the
In 1750 it was blessed by Fa- chapel there is a water
ther Algamesi who came tank which the locals call
from Coro-Venezuela and Bernardino Silvester, one of to be celebrated at this sa- can see the remains of Tanki Cacique. In the past
appointed Domingo Anto- Antonio’s sons with his wife cred native place, with the around twenty houses, this tank was closed. But
nio Silvester as the island’s Anna Cathalina Tromp, custom of arriving in pro- some made of stone and mostly water was brought
first prosecutor in the name “neighbors and naturals of cession to Alto Vista. others of clay. Nowadays, out from the Poz di Noord,
of the Spanish crown and the island Aruba” and thus only around six of these a well dug in the sand.
Rome. In 1752 the prosecu- they became natives. Two-hundred years after houses remain.
tion passed into the hands the beautiful time of Alto The chapel can be viewed
of Antonio Silvester’s son- At the end of the eighteen Vista, people can no lon- South of the chapel in the from basically any point in
in-law, Miguel Álvarez, who century many inhabitants ger see much of the town yard two graves can be the north side, even from
continued to guide the pa- the island died as a result of of Alto Vista from 1750. With observed, there was the Paradera and Sero Plat.
rishioners in their prayers. the black fever epidemic a lot of work they found cemetery which father All the historical remains
and since people believed the old foundations of the Pablo de Algemesi blessed. around the chapel provide
According to the book, that the Alto Vista area was Church of the Queen of It is not certain, but it is be- us with an idea on how the
The History of Alto Vista by the most infected, they be- the Holiest Rosary to build lieved that the two graves old people of Alto Vista
R.H. Nooyen, it is not known gan to build their homes a new chapel on the same belong to Antonio Silvester used to live. Don’t miss the
when Domingo Antonio Sil- further south within the place. The entire surround- and Miguel Alvares, ac- opportunity to visit a place
vester came to Aruba from Noord area, so the town of ing area was empty and cording to Nooyen. About of historical significance
Venezuela. The elders be- Noord began to grow into desolated, making it hard 50 meters near the chapel with a window to Aruba’s
lieve Antonio was a Span- a community till getting its to imagine that Alto Vista there are still the markings past.q
iard. In 1780, father Joseph own Church. However re- was a town at all. A hun- of an old house, where
Antonio de la Vegal called ligious festivals continued dred years later, people Antonio and Bernardino

Enjoy one of the best views on Aruba at the top of the Hooiberg Hill

(Oranjestad)—If you are a regu- located at the center district of the
lar hiker, or maybe want to spice island, Santa Cruz, the Hooiberg
up your morning work out session, Hill is the second highest point on
then you might enjoy one of the the island at 165 meters above sea
most popular climbing sites on the level (or about 540 feet above sea
island: The Hooiberg Hill. Accom- level). The highest point is Jamano-
panied with a 600-step staircase, ta Hill at 189 meters (620 feet), lo-
this hill overlooks a great part of cated in the Arikok National Park.
the island, the Caribbean sea, and
sometimes even the Santa Anna The staircase that run on the side of
mountain located in the coastal the hill was first built in 1951, when Over time, as the steps faced ero-
state of Falcon in Venezuela, pro- Mr. Eduardo Tromp constructed it. sion, the government decided to
viding one of the best views you At that time, the staircase consist- renovate these stairs in 1991. This
can get on Aruba. ed of 900 steps. new project delivered the newer
staircase with only 587 steps. How-
ever, don’t be fooled—it may still
be a work out to get on top. In
addition, there is now a gazebo
placed halfway up the stair for a
little rest. The view at this resting
stop is also a sight to see.

The best time to climb the hill would
be early in the morning or right be-
fore sunset, as it may not be as hot.
However, the hill is of course open
all day, every day.q