Page 15 - AHATA

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local Wednesday 16 July 2025
Alto Vista chapel and its link to Aruba’s origins

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

Planning on snorkeling? Get to know our Candelchi!

mean several different species but
without distinguishing them by spe-
cies. In this picture, we are show-
ing the most common one in our
waters, which is called squirrelfish
in English or scientifically known as
Holocentrus adscensionis.

Under candelchi, we in Aruba
generally refer to all the different
species of squirrelfish. They all look
alike and it's really difficult to distin- guished by different marks such as
guish between them. color on the dorsal spine or marks
on the body.
The squirrelfish family is distinguished
by the following characteristics.
They are heart-shaped with pink In Aruba:
or red hues and often show heart- Candelchi are found on reefs or
(Oranjestad)—If you’re ever plan- ment of Department of Agriculture, shaped streaks between the scales areas with structure in the water
ning on snorkeling during your Livestock, and Fisheries, known as along the body. They have hard where they can hide. Although
vacation on Aruba, you may spot Santa Rosa, offers this informative fins and are always armed. Over at they prefer to hunt for food at
fish that you can’t recognize. One article that illustrate some fish and our sister island Curaçao, they are night, they are also active dur-
of these may be the “Candelchi” their names in Papiamento. called "bari di clabo" (nail barrel) ing the day. They are edible and
(Squirrelfish), a common, yet shy for that reason. delicious when prepared dry and
fish that swims all year long in the Candelchi, Squirrelfish, Holocen- crispy with lime. It is particularly
waters of Aruba. trus adscensionis: In our waters, there are 7 to 8 challenging to scale the fish, which
Candelchi actually refers to the types or species present and they is why it is not one of the favorites
Let's talk about the names of fish. entire squirrelfish family or, as some are sometimes caught and seen among fishermen. They often live in
Do you know your fish? The Depart- say, when we say candelchi, we occasionally. They can be distin- groups.q