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Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, Cartago, Costa Rica

 

(Where Gumbo was #455)

Gumbo was visiting the interesting Basilica of Our Lady of the Angeles (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles) in Cartago, which once was the country's capital city.  Congratulations to George G, the only one who recognized where Gumbo was this week.

01 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

02 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

03 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

This church is Cartago's most popular tourist attraction and Costa Rica's most important religious shrine.  The first church was built at the site in 1639, but it was repeatedly damaged by earthquakes.  It has been rebuilt and refurbished several times, the latest being in 1939.   The church is dedicated to the Virgen de los Ángeles (the Lady of the Angels)

04 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

05 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

06 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

The basilica features colonial elements and neo-Byzantine architecture.  The interior details are quite lovely, with a spacious well-lite sanctuary....

07 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

08 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

10 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

The Basilica's golden altar features a small but very important historic relic known as La Negrita (the Black Virgin), the black statue being encased with gold.  It found by a young girl in 1635 on the spot the church was built and despite its being moved the statue reappeared at the spot the child discovered it.   This was declared a miracle and a church was built at this site.  In 1824 the Black Virgin was declared Costa Rica’s patron Virgin.

11 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

12 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

La Negrita or Reina de Cartago, Courtesy Wikimedia and Mariordo
(Altar containing gold-encased "Black Virgin", the bottom photo courtesy Wikimedia and Marioirdo)

In the days leading up to August 2nd (the anniversary of the statuette’s discovery) more than a million pilgrims from every corner of the country and elsewhere around the globe descend on the site.  Many walk the 22km from San José to the basilica, some completing part of the pilgrimage on their knees.  Next to the Basilica is a natural spring where the statue was found, from which the pilgrims drink.

13 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

14 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

15 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

16 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

17 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

18 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

The church is lovely, with many carved wooden altars and lovely stained stained-glass windows.  The basilica is open all day and people commonly stop by to pray.  The faithful are hopeful the virgin will perform a miracle, often to return them to good health.

19 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

20 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

21 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

22 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago
(A few of the stained-glass windows in the Basilica)

Mass was being held when we visited so our exploration of the church was limited, but visitors are welcome and the photos I took decorate this blog.  It would be fascinating to visit the site during the August pilgrimage.

23 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago

As we left the church, we passed a procession of young priests making their way from the Basiica.

Attachments

Images (24)
  • 00 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago
  • 01 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago
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  • 23 Basilica of Los Angeles, Cartago
  • La Negrita or Reina de Cartago, Courtesy Wikimedia and Mariordo

Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

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