La Merced Chapel and Museum and Museum, the first building and the focal point of the anticipated Florida Cultural Heritage Center Plaza’s “village square,” was begun under the inspiration of the parish’s Peruvian community. In addition to hosting weddings, concerts and other events, it is also home to significant original works of art – Spanish Colonial art created in the New World, as well as works imported from Europe by the colonial settlers. As construction continued, and donors of time, talent and treasure came forward, Father Jose Luis Menéndez increased the quality and detail of construction of La Merced by focusing on creating a space that used the same handcrafted workmanship of similar century-old buildings, while growing the number, size and quality of the collection it houses.

La Merced is available for private religious services such as weddings, for docent-led group viewing of its art, for concerts presented both by the Center and through its long-standing partnership with Concerts-in-Residence Martha/Mary Concerts (f/k/a Saint Martha Concerts), and for private docent tours arranged through the Center.

To request an appointment for a docent-conducted viewing, contact Colonial Art Curator Carol Damian at 305.607.5160.

For information on the use of La Merced Chapel and Museum and Museum, you can email info@floridaculturalheritage,org, or call the Center at 305.639.8769.