Capilla del Cristo

Calle del Cristo runs downhill and stops abruptly at the city wall, and at that dead end stands a chapel barely bigger than a room, built in the 1750s. The usual story is that a rider in a race down the street failed to stop and went over the edge, and the chapel was raised either in thanks for his survival or in his memory, depending on who tells it. Inside are paintings by José Campeche and a silver and gold altar, most of its objects dating from 1753, hung with ex-votos, small metal charms shaped like limbs and organs left by people asking for or thanking for healing. Beside it, the Parque de las Palomas is a small walled terrace above the bay where hundreds of pigeons are fed, with one of the best views in the old city.

Highlights

• The silver altar - hung with ex-voto charms left by petitioners.
• The chapel's setting - closing off the end of Calle del Cristo.
• Parque de las Palomas - the pigeon terrace and bay view beside it.
• The street itself - the old city's most photographed cobbled run.

When to go

December to April is the cooler season. The chapel opens only limited hours, historically a couple of days a week, so seeing inside is a matter of timing; the exterior and the park beside it are always accessible. Early morning has the street to itself.

Good to know

The chapel is often locked and many visitors only ever see the gate, which is worth knowing before making a point of it. It is tiny, a few minutes inside. The pigeon park is charming but the birds are numerous and unbothered by people, which some find unpleasant.

Nearby

The cathedral is uphill; Casa Blanca and the city walls are a short walk.

Key facts