Description of the attraction
The Church of San José el Viejo was erected after the permission of the municipality by José López Hurtado in 1740. The project attracted funds from residents of the Tortuguero area, future parishioners of this temple. But the plans were not destined to come true, tk. On December 11, 1742, the mayor's office turned to Philip V for consent to the consecration of the temple, but due to overlaps with the documentation, consent was not obtained. In this regard, the temple was closed by a decree dated June 2, 1744, and the city authorities were fined. Later, in 1762, after several lawsuits and proceedings in the Royal Court, the church began work with the highest permission.
The Temple of San José el Viejo was severely damaged by a powerful earthquake in 1773, but rebuilt. Immediately after the natural disaster, Carmelite nuns occupied the church for their own needs, and at the beginning of the 19th century, tanneries were located there. Illegal use continued until 1930, when these walls served as grain storage.
In 1990, the Granay y Tunson Foundation carried out a large-scale restoration of the entire complex. Among the features of the temple, one can note the abundance of decorative elements made in the style characteristic of those times. Today the ruins are used for weddings.
