He Sanctuary of Las Lajaslocated in the Nariño Department, Colombiais one of the most impressive basilicas in the world, both for its neo-Gothic architectural beauty and for the legends and miracles that surround its history. The origin of his devotion >storm. It was there that the miracle of hearing his daughter speak for the first time occurred, evoking the appearance of a woman with a baby. Even though Mary saw nothing at the time, this experience marked the beginning of veneration in this place.
Some time later, after the death of her daughter, Mary returned to the cave praying for her resurrection, which occurred before the eyes of the people, thus consolidating faith in the miracles that occurred there. Since then, the Sanctuary has become an important center of pilgrimage, visited each year by thousands of people. Its construction, which lasted from 1916 to 1949, is distinguished by its 100-meter towers and a 50 meter long bridgeframed by the intense green of the Andes and the Guáitara River. In 2007 he was named one of 7 wonders of Colombia.
Sanctuary of Las Lajas, the most impressive basilica in the world
@juan_viajero gets over a million visitors a year, and it’s easy to see why. 📍I invite you to visit my YouTube channel (Link in my Bio) 💫 Visiting hours: Open every day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 💰 Prices: Free entry. #santuariodelaslajas #nariño #ipiales #iglesiamashermosadecolombia #maravillasdelmundo #maravillasdecolombia #travel #colombia #juanviajero ♬ Love is beautifully painful – Ghost Duet Version – Darkrose
The Sanctuary of Las Lajas is an imposing neo-Gothic construction, considered one of the most beautiful basilicas in the world according to The telegraph. This work, built between 1916 and 1949 thanks to donations from the faithful, stands 40 meters above the Guáitara River. Its name comes from slabwhich stands out next to the green of the Andes.
With 100 meter towers and a 50 meter bridge, it attracts more than 750,000 visitors per year. The sanctuary houses three naves, a museum and a crypt, and its white and gold interior contains plaques with the names of worshipers, including presidents. An interesting detail is the presence of carved fish inside, which represent the species that inhabit the nearby Guáitara River, thus connecting the design of the temple to the nature that surrounds it.
History
The Sanctuary of Las Lajas was first mentioned in 1756 by the Franciscan John of Saint Gertrude in his column “Wonders of Nature”. The common story about its origin tells that in 1754, María Mueses de Quiñones and her daughter Rosa, surprised by a storm, took refuge in a nearby cave. There, the young girl, deaf and mute, began to speak, pointing to an image of the Virgin of the Rosary.
This event was considered miraculous, leading to the construction of a cabin on the site. Subsequently, several works were built in five stages. The first was a small cabin, followed by a brick chapel from 1795. In 1853 the construction was expanded under the direction of the architect Mariano Aulestia. Finally, in 1916 the first stone of the current sanctuary was laid, which was completed in 1949.
Recognized for its beauty and religious importance, the sanctuary was crowned a minor basilica, declared Property of Cultural Interest of Colombia in 2006 and considered one of the seven wonders of Colombia in 2007. In 2015, The Daily Telegraph He called it the most beautiful church in the world.
Miracle
The history of Las Lajas Sanctuary dates back to the 18th century. María Mueses de Quiñones and her daughter Rosa, deaf and mute from birth, took refuge in a cave during a storm while They went to Ipiales. At that moment, the girl spoke for the first time, pointing to a mixed-race woman with a baby. Although María saw nothing and ran away in fear, upon returning home, Rosa disappeared and was found in the cave playing with the woman and child.
Years later, after Rosa’s death, María prayed in the cave for the resurrection of her daughter, which happened miraculously, and the community began to believe in this place. Since then, reports have been published healings and apparitionswhich made the cave an important place of pilgrimage.
How to get there
For travel to Las Lajas Sanctuary from BogotaIt is best to go there by plane, since the road trip lasts around 20 hours. There are direct flights to Ipiales with airlines such as Avianca or Satena, lasting approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Another option is to fly to Pasto, from where a 40-minute drive takes you to the land terminal, then take a 2-hour bus to Ipiales. From there, the sanctuary is 15 minutes by taxi. You can get there on foot or by cable car.
