Capilla de los Remedios (Chapel of Our Lady of Remedies), Santo Domingo

The Chapel of Our Lady of Remedies is one of the most distinctive small chapels in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, offering visitors a close look at 16th-century religious architecture along the historic Calle Las Damas. Built by the alderman Francisco de Ávila, it originally served as a private chapel and mausoleum for the Ovando and Dávila families, reflecting both their prominence and the early development of ecclesiastical life in the Spanish Caribbean. Though modest in size, the chapel stands out for its Gothic style, marked by a brick façade, a barrel-vaulted ceiling, and a striking triple-arched bell tower that remains one of its most recognizable features.

The building underwent a major restoration in 1884, preserving its colonial lines while allowing its interior to be appreciated today. Visitors who enter the chapel encounter elegant arches, period artwork, and a notable sculpture of the Virgen de los Remedios placed at the altar, which reflects the devotion that gave the chapel its name. The combination of architectural simplicity and artistic detail creates an atmosphere that complements the surrounding historic streets.

Its location near the Plaza de Espana makes it easy to include during a walk through the area. Around the chapel, visitors will find other points of interest, including old cannons, a historic sundial, and modern sculptural pieces such as a bull and a horse, adding context to the site’s layered setting. Although still intimate in scale, the chapel now opens for guided tours and occasionally hosts classical music concerts and art exhibits, offering a quiet cultural stop within the wider Colonial Zone.