The Church of San Juan de Dios

by Natalie Taylor

Somewhat removed from the historical center of San Miguel, stands the church of San Juan de Dios. The construction of this church began in 1770, but there was already an existing structure upon which it was built. After many years of raising funds and cutting through red tape, a hospital was constructed in 1753. Since the poorest of the poor were mostly indigenous people, it came to be known as “hospital de indios” and there was a small chapel attached to it, named for Saint Raphael, considered patron of nurses, physicians, medical workers, and healing—his Hebrew name means “God has healed.”