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local Friday 30 June 2023

Alto Vista chapel and its link to Aruba’s origins

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

Why You Should Not Miss Aruba’s Free City Center Street Car Tour

this beautiful and naturally walk to the famous Renais-
air-conditioned vehicle? sance Marina showcasing
The tour consists of a total luxurious yachts and Aru-
of 9 stops approximately ba’s blue waters.
200 meters apart from each
other; all stops are clearly The “Tram van Oranjestad”
marked. The tram will bring starts from a balloon loop
you close to different mu- near the Port of Call and
seums, historical plazas, serves the downtown area
monuments, the Protestant and ends at Plaza Nicky.
church, Aruba’s high- end The first ride starts at 10:00
mall, retail shops, and a va- am sharp with intervals of
riety of local and interna- 25minutes. The last trolley
tional cuisine restaurants. departs from the cruise port
The “I love Aruba” trade- at 5:00pm. Don’t miss this
mark also belongs to that tour of the beautiful Aru-
list. The third stop on the ba’s City Center– it is free
route is close to a 5-minute for all!q

ORANJESTAD - Aruba’s an. There are two trolleys,
City Center Street Car - a single-deck one with 42 Caya Betico Croes, mostly
or as we call it in Dutch; seats and a double-decker referred to as our “main
“Tram van Oranjestad’ - is with 64 seats. The line was street” has been devel-
a single track tram line in inspired by the popular oped into a pollution-free
Oranjestad, the capital battery-powered streetcar pedestrian mall. The dou-
city of Aruba. It was inau- operation at the Grove in ble-decker offers you a 360
gurated on 22 December Los Angeles, USA. Aruba’s degree view of the down
2012, being the first and so streetcars are powered by town area with a picture
far the only passenger rail hydrogen fuel cells, which perfect scenery of the is-
service on Aruba and the are charged by the island’s land’s clear blue skies. Who
rest of the Dutch Caribbe- year-round trade winds. would not enjoy a ride on