Iglesia and Hospital de San Lazaro (Church and Hospital of San Lázaro), Santo Domingo

The Church and Hospital of San Lázaro offer a compelling look into the medical and religious history of Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone. Originally located on the outskirts of the city to prevent the spread of leprosy, the hospital complex was already functioning by the late 16th century. It served as a place of care for those suffering from infectious diseases, with the adjoining chapel providing spiritual support. After an earthquake in 1759, only the small Lázaro Chapel survived, and the site was rebuilt. Because the hospital was repeatedly adapted to practical needs over the centuries, its original layout is nearly impossible to trace, yet the surviving structure reveals layers of architectural history that make the complex especially intriguing today.

Inside the chapel, visitors will find a blend of Gothic elements and unexpected structural details, including buttresses placed both indoors and outdoors. A major restoration in 1978 uncovered one of the site’s most notable features: a Romanesque-style triple-naved archway with brick arches resting on stone columns rising from a low wall, a layout reminiscent of European medieval churches. At the main altar, a Baroque altarpiece draws attention with its ornate design; it once held an image of the Virgin of Charity. Outside, Mudejar-style battlements decorate the entrance atrium, adding another layer to this mix of influences.

During the same restoration, anthropologist Fernando Luna Calderón discovered numerous skeletons beneath the site. Forensic analysis revealed that while many patients indeed died of leprosy, others succumbed to misdiagnosed illnesses, offering a poignant reminder of the medical challenges of earlier centuries.