El Chapitel del Calvario is a religious landmark in central Cuernavaca, Morelos, beside the Church of San José El Calvario. Dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe and built in 1538, the small chapel is part of a two-building ensemble. It is about a 24-minute walk from this four-star hotel in Cuernavaca.
- Location: Motolinía #2, Colonia Centro, Cuernavaca.
- What it is: A chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, beside the Temple of San José El Calvario.
- Historical date: The municipal government says the chapel was built in 1538.
- Walking-tour option: A municipal tour includes the Chapitel and Church of San José del Calvario among its central stops.
What and where is El Chapitel?
El Chapitel is a small chapel in central Cuernavaca. Cuernavaca’s municipal government gives its address as Motolinía #2, Colonia Centro; the state tourism inventory places the ensemble on Avenida Morelos Sur, and a state gazette identifies it at Avenida José María Morelos and Agustín Güemes.
The federal tourism guide calls the two-building religious ensemble El Chapitel or the Temple of San José El Calvario.
The chapel is dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Its distinctive form is a single vault resting on isolated columns. The nearby church is a separate building within the ensemble, built in the early 20th century in a romantic style.
What is El Chapitel’s place in Cuernavaca’s history?
El Chapitel connects Cuernavaca’s present-day centre with a religious site that dates to 1538. A cross stood on the chapel’s interior pedestal, giving rise to the name “El Calvario”; stories also describe the site as a humilladero, a place of devotion.
The two buildings reflect different periods: the chapel’s stated construction date is 1538, while the adjoining Temple of San José El Calvario was built in the early 20th century. Together, they make the name El Chapitel refer both to the small chapel and, in popular usage, to the wider religious ensemble.
How do you get to El Chapitel on foot?
El Chapitel is in central Cuernavaca, so you can include it in a walk around the city centre. A municipal walking-tour listing includes both Chapitel del Calvario and the Church of San José del Calvario on its north-of-centre route.
The tour meets at the Ayuntamiento tourism module at Agustín Güemes #1, opposite the Porfirio Díaz fountain. It departs at 10:00 a.m. Monday through Sunday, lasts 2 hours 30 minutes, and estimates about 12 minutes at each stop.
The price is 250 pesos per person, with admissions not included. It requires 2–12 participants and is offered in Spanish, English, French and German. The route also includes places such as Puente Porfirio Díaz and its ravine, Casa Azul and Ex Hotel Moctezuma.
The municipal government gives weekday hours of 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., but those hours do not clarify access to the chapel’s interior. Check the official site before you go.
What nearby places can you include?
Jardín Juárez is another central Cuernavaca stop to pair with the Chapitel. Its garden and kiosk make it a change of scene from the religious buildings; the city’s guide to Jardín Juárez covers what to see there and how to visit.
The Chapitel’s central location makes it easy to combine with other city-centre landmarks.
If you want to add another small museum stop, El Castillito is also a Cuernavaca landmark.
FAQs
What is El Chapitel in Cuernavaca?
It is a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, beside the Church of San José El Calvario. The name is also used for the wider two-building religious ensemble.
When was El Chapitel built?
Cuernavaca’s municipal government gives 1538 as its construction date. The adjoining Temple of San José El Calvario was built in the early 20th century.
Where is El Chapitel located?
Its address is Motolinía #2, Colonia Centro, Cuernavaca, Morelos. The ensemble is also identified with Avenida Morelos Sur and the intersection of Avenida José María Morelos and Agustín Güemes.