Page 7 - AHATA

A9
LOCAL Saturday 6 July 2024

Alto Vista chapel and its link to Aruba’s origins

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

Aruba Tourism Authority honored loyal visitors at Costa Linda Beach

Resort!

The Aruba Tourism Author- more consecutively. New York, United States. the honorees were:
ity recently had the great The three levels of honor • The people of Aru-
pleasure of recognizing are as follows: Mr. Jorgino Willems repre- ba are very friendly and
Emerald Ambassadors of Distinguished Visitor senting the Aruba Tourism welcoming.
Aruba. The honorees were (10>years consecutively Authority, and staff mem- • Aruba’s beaches.
respectively honored with visiting Aruba) bers of Costa Linda Beach • Aruba’s weather.
a certificate for their years Goodwill Ambassador Resort bestowed the cer- • Aruba’s pristine
of visits, loyalty, and love (20>years consecutively tificate upon the honor- ocean water.
for the island of Aruba. visiting Aruba) ees, presented them with • Aruba’s Safety.
Emerald Ambassador gifts, and thanked them for
The honorary certification (35>years consecutively choosing Aruba as their fa- On behalf of the Aruba
is presented on behalf of visiting Aruba) vorite vacation destination, Tourism Authority, we
the Minister of Tourism as as their home away from would like to express our
a token of appreciation The honorees were: home. sincere gratitude and ap-
and to say “Masha Danki” Emerald Ambassadors preciation to the honorees
to guests who have visited Mr. Michael & Mrs. Maria The top reasons for return- for their continued visits to
Aruba 10, 20, or 35 years or Meschino from Rochester ing to Aruba provided by the “One Happy Island”.