St. John of God Church

The first reference to this hermitage dates from 1687. It was rebuilt in the second decade of the 18th century, with the financial support of its neighbours and in particular two main benefactors Jaspar Alonso Betancourt Cisneros and his wife. During his visit to the village of Puerto Principe in 1756, the Bishop of Cuba, Pedro Agustin formally announced the creation of the hospital of Our Lady of the Assumption, built next to the church.
Burials were carried out under the main altar and in the nave. Its benefactors are buried here, along with Maria De La Trinidad Cisneros, known as the La Capitana or La Coronela, due to her husband’s military rank. The latter, in 1792 donated the interesting image of the Most Holy Trinity, made of precious wood, which is found on the main altar of the church.
Previously the church had one tower on the right side, but this was demolished and later rebuilt in the centre. The tower is made up of four parts, crowned by a small semicircular dome and has semidetached pilasters. The second floor of the tower and the perfectly symmetrically facade are flanked by two large curved parapets, and in its centre is a small elliptical oculus that enhances the facade. Due to some of the structural designs, this church is said to have a slightly baroque influence, although a Cuban colonial architectural code with Mudejar influence predominates.