Built between 1606 and 1607 and believe it to be the oldest church in Puerto Rico that is still standing.   The church was part of a convent constructed by Dominican Frays with donations made by the village neighbors.   In the Ninetieth Century the convent was used also as a school and was pretended to be use as a jail until the town habitants opposed.  In 1868 due to its bad shape the convent collapsed, except the front wall and the church.  Originally the bell and the cross were place in front of the convent and not on top of the church.  Also the roof on the altar was lower than the center of the church, contrary to what it is today.   The bell is believe to be placed where is today between 1878 y 1920.  In 1949 the Catholic Church relinquished the building to the state government of Puerto Rico to be converted into a museum (1962).  Today still remains as a museum after several restorations.   In 1930 La Junta Conservatoria de Valores Históricos (the first conservatory organization for the government) included the Porta Coeli as a historic monument.  The Porta Coeli is also included in the National Register of Historic Locations of the United States.  Porta Coeli is pronounced "Porta Cheli" and means "Puerta del Cielo" (Heaven’s Door)

 

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