Las Lajas

The city’s main attraction, 7 km east on a paved road, is the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Las Lajas (US$0.55, mass at the church Mon-Fri 0600, 0700, 0900, 1100, 1500 and 1700, Sun, every hour 0600-1200, 1500-1700) which was declared a National Monument in 1984. Seen from the approach road, looking down into the canyon, the Sanctuary is a magnificent architectural conception, set on a bridge over the Río Guáitara. it is very heavily ornamented in the Gothic style. The altar is set into the rock face of the canyon where the Virgin Mary appeared around 1750. This forms one end of the sanctuary with the façade facing a wide plaza that completes the bridge over the canyon. There are walks to nearby shrines in dramatic scenery. It is a 10 to 15-minute walk down to the sanctuary from the village along a path lined with plaques giving thanks for miracles rendered by the virgin as well as a statue of Manuel de Rivera, a blind man cured by the virgin who walked through Ecuador begging for alms as thanks. He raised 388 pesos and 7 reales. Pilgrims come from all over Colombia and Ecuador (very crowded at Easter) and the Sanctuary must be second only to Lourdes in the number of miracles claimed for it, although the church only recognizes one. In the vaults of the church is an interesting museum telling the history of the construction of the church as well as religious artefacts and some interesting taxidermy – a ‘two-headed’ and an ‘eight-legged’ sheep, presumably examples of further miracles but clumsily stitched together from many animals.