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La Capilla de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.

Tucked away behind quaint small shops in Old Town lies a small chapel, which, according to legend, is haunted by an apparition called the lady in black.

This mysterious figure has often been seen seated on the far right bench of the chapel, weeping profusely for some unknown tragic loss.

The ghost is dressed in a long black dress, her face concealed by a dark veil. She is often mistaken for a real person, and sometimes ignored, until she mysteriously vanishes. The apparition is not menacing or threatening. Those who encounter her have said that there is a deep sense of sadness that emulates from her. In some respects the ghost resembles La Llorona of Hispanic folklore but only in the sense that both ghosts are known to weep.

The tiny Chapel of our Lady of Guadalupe can be found at 404 San Felipe NW tucked away in the Patio Escondido.

The Chapel was selected as Site #6 for the Ghost Patrol research project (2003 to 2006).


Sister Giotto was the person responsible for designing and building La Capilla de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, which was erected in 1975. It was part of a larger project, an art school which she had established in 1969. The Sagrada Arts School eventually consisted of studios, apartments, the chapel, and even a restaurant called Joseph's Table.

Sister Giotto was born in 1927 and raised in Chicago where she attended high school at Chicago 's famous Art Institute. When she was 17, after listening to the boys coming home from WWII and praying for them daily, she had a conversion experience. She then entered a Dominican convent and studied in Florence , Italy eventually receiving her M.F.A. from Wisconsin . After returning to her alma mater in Florence , she held the position of Dean of the Art Department at Villa Schifanoia for 8 years.

In 1965, the Vatican urged that schools of sacred arts should be set up wherever possible and soon afterwards Sister Giotto got permission to set up such a school.