The small town of Chimayo, New Mexico, is located about thirty miles by road north of Santa Fe, just off off the High Road to Taos. In Chimayo is El Santuario de Chimayo, a Roman Catholic Church built in 1816. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970, the Santuario is widely considered to be "the most important Catholic pilgrimage center in the United States" (Wikipedia).
When visiting the Santuario, the most convenient place to park is around the back. As you enter (or leave) you walk through a courtyard. Along the back side of the courtyard, along a small creek, you'll pass these crosses...
The church is small (60 feet by 24 feet, with 3 feet thick walls). You can get to the church itself by entering through a walled courtyard on either side, or through the front gate...
As you exit the front gate you can walk up a small hill to a short street lined with a few shops and art galleries. Here's another shot of the church, taken as I paused while walking up that hill...
Walking along the small road that runs behind the Santuario, I stopped several times to take pictures. The first time was at a small store. While my wife went inside to check things out, I looked around and took a few photos of the outside of the building...
A bit further down the same road I saw this doorway. There was so much that caught my eye - the arched doorway with the wagon wheel embedded in it, the old swinging doors, the broken but not discarded ladder leaning against the entry, the Coca-Cola sign... Later that evening, when looking through the day's photos, I thought this would be a good candidate for a black and white conversion...
Walking along the small road that runs behind the Santuario, I stopped several times to take pictures. The first time was at a small store. While my wife went inside to check things out, I looked around and took a few photos of the outside of the building...
A bit further down the same road I saw this doorway. There was so much that caught my eye - the arched doorway with the wagon wheel embedded in it, the old swinging doors, the broken but not discarded ladder leaning against the entry, the Coca-Cola sign... Later that evening, when looking through the day's photos, I thought this would be a good candidate for a black and white conversion...
El Santuario de Chimayo, and the surrounding area, is rich with culture and history, and if you're visiting Santa Fe, Taos, or points in between, stopping by the Santuario is worth the small detour.
The first two photos were taken in July 2013, the last three several days ago (January 2014). All photos were taken with a Nikon D7000 outfitted with a Nikkor 18-55 DX lens.
The first two photos were taken in July 2013, the last three several days ago (January 2014). All photos were taken with a Nikon D7000 outfitted with a Nikkor 18-55 DX lens.
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