Los Santos Reyes de Cucurpe

In spite that it is thought that Cucurpe was founded by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, the reality is that it had already been established by the time Kino arrived at the Pimeria. Besides this, Cucurpe is not located in the Pimeria, but within the Opateria.

The temple whose ruins can be seen today, was built by Father Salvador de la Peña SJ, who was there between 1750 and 1763. He replaced the then standing constructions with another built with the local stone, called "cantera." He was helped by the local Indians and a Spaniard who, according to the Missionary, only had a rudimentary knowledge of building.

Because the arches couldn´t be built, the temple building was finished with a flat ceiling formed by bricks laid on beams, and a limestone mortar, which today have dissappeared.

 

Cucurpe today. Photo by the author.

Remains of a staircase. Photo by the author

Cucurpe can be reached from Magdalena, going East along a paved road. After climbing the Sierra del Torreon, the town is reached some 30 miles from Magdalena.

You can see a Interactive Map of the Missions by clicking here