It is beautiful on the outside but holds a mystery on the inside.
We passed this tree which was covered in rosaries. I'm not Catholic but I assume they were left in the hopes that prayers would be answered.
This is not the mystery. The details in this chapel were stunning.
Here is the mystery, the spiral staircase. Now as you look at these photos imagine this staircase without any handrails, they were added later.
According to the story the chapel was constructed in 1878 without a way to the choir loft. Whoops!
The sisters who would sing in the church prayed for a solution and on the final day of prayer a carpenter arrived looking for work. After months of work he disappeared without receiving payment for the beautiful spiral staircase he constructed.
It is said that he didn't use nails for the construction just wooden pegs. It contains 360 degree turns and is an engineering marvel.
Can you imagine ascending the stairs to the choir loft without the handrails? Neither can I. Below is a photo of the photo that is in the church showing what the staircase looks like without handrails. Amazing, isn't it?
And now some of the other beautiful details of Loretto Chapel.
We stayed at the Eldorado Hotel and Spa while visiting Old Town Santa Fe.
