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LOCAL Wednesday 23 OctOber 2024

Alto Vista chapel and its link to Aruba’s origins

According to Etnia Nativa, in in procession to Alto Vista. that the two graves belong
the 18th century most of the to Antonio Silvester and
inhabitants of Aruba were Two-hundred years after the Miguel Alvares, according
indigenous who lived on beautiful time of Alto Vista, to Nooyen. About 50 meters
the north coast, one of the people can no longer see near the chapel there are
largest communities lived in much of the town of Alto still the markings of an old
Alto Vista. Vista from 1750. With a lot house, where Antonio and
of work they found the old Bernardino Silvester would
As they were very religious, foundations of the Church have lived. About 200 me-
they had a chief with the of the Queen of the Holiest ters from the chapel there
name of Antonio Silvester Rosary to build a new cha- is a water tank which the lo-
who guided them in the pel on the same place. The cals call Tanki Cacique. In
Christian life and it was he entire surrounding area was the past this tank was closed.
who decided to build a stone At the end of the eighteen empty and desolated, mak- But mostly water was brought
chapel with a roof of corn According to the book, The century many inhabitants the ing it hard to imagine that out from the Poz di Noord, a
rods, which would serve as a History of Alto Vista by R.H. island died as a result of the Alto Vista was a town at all. well dug in the sand.
place of prayer. In 1750 it was Nooyen, it is not known when black fever epidemic and A hundred years later, peo-
blessed by Father Algamesi Domingo Antonio Silvester since people believed that ple can see the remains of The chapel can be viewed
who came from Coro-Ven- came to Aruba from Venezu- the Alto Vista area was the around twenty houses, some from basically any point in
ezuela and appointed Do- ela. The elders believe Anto- most infected, they began made of stone and others of the north side, even from
mingo Antonio Silvester as nio was a Spaniard. In 1780, to build their homes further clay. Nowadays, only around Paradera and Sero Plat. All
the island’s first prosecutor father Joseph Antonio de la south within the Noord area, six of these houses remain. the historical remains around
in the name of the Spanish Vegal called Bernardino Sil- so the town of Noord began the chapel provide us with
crown and Rome. In 1752 the vester, one of Antonio’s sons to grow into a community South of the chapel in the an idea on how the old peo-
prosecution passed into the with his wife Anna Cathalina till getting its own Church. yard two graves can be ob- ple of Alto Vista used to live.
hands of Antonio Silvester’s Tromp, “neighbors and natu- However religious festivals served, there was the cem- Don’t miss the opportunity to
son-in-law, Miguel Álvarez, rals of the island Aruba” and continued to be celebrated etery which father Pablo de visit a place of historical sig-
who continued to guide the thus they became natives. at this sacred native place, Algemesi blessed. It is not nificance with a window to
parishioners in their prayers. with the custom of arriving certain, but it is believed Aruba’s past.q

Visit the natural bridges of Aruba!

(Oranjestad)—After you’ve visited the Alto Vista and the little beach dried up. Despite this, this
Church, the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and the site remained a tourist attraction, with many vis-
mini natural pool that is located right next to it,
you’re next up around the northern coast line
must be the Natural Bridge. Once the largest
natural bridge in the Caribbean, this bridge has
been a tourist attraction for many years.

The bridge was formed during thousands of
years, cut and crafted by the wild waves that
crash into the coral stone walls of the coast. Be- itors walking along the coral cliffs of the bridge
fore its collapse, this bridge measured 30 me- to see the spectacular view of the northern
ters in length and 7 meters in height, making coastline and the Caribbean Sea. Visitors can
it the biggest natural bridge in the Caribbean also still visit the souvenir shop on the left of the
at the time. For many years, this site was also a bridge entrance.
frequently visited beach, as the bridge had a
small opening through which the water would While the natural bridge no longer is functional,
flow into the tiny beach. there is now a smaller natural bridge very close.
This bridge is often called the “Baby Bridge” or
Unfortunately in 2005, the bridge collapsed, “Daughter Bridge”. q