Image of the Month, August 2020
One of the most fascinating, peaceful and reverent places in New Mexico is the Plaza Del Cerro in the Hispanic village of Chimayo. While many people are familiar with the Santuario in Chimayo, the Plaza del Cerro is unknown to most. However, it is the best-preserved, if not the last remaining, defensive plaza in New Mexico. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
The Belfry of the Oratorio is seen in the Upper Right
Constructed to defend against marauding Indians, the Plaza consists of long rows of small attached adobe buildings that form a square and face inwards. Some of the buildings no longer exist, and some have slumped or melted with age. Nevertheless, the Plaza Del Cerro continues to evoke a sense of awe. The best preserved structure in the Plaza is the Oratorio San Buenaventura, a small chapel named after the patron saint. The first written mention of the Plaza is 1785.
I first became aware of the Plaza Del Cerro in 1997. At that time, I was a board member of the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance. As a result, I was privy to a private tour of the Plaza and a viewing of the interior of the Oratorio. This was a special privilege.
Since 1997, I have returned to the Plaza Del Cerro many times. I have photographed the Plaza at different times of the year and in different seasons. Sometimes I have returned just to experience the quiet and peacefulness. In August, I photographed the Plaza with the shadows of leaves on mud plastered walls.