Community - Cartago

Cartago is the former capital of Costa Rica. Founded in 1563, it was Costa Rica's first city, and was in fact its only city for almost 150 years. The Irazú Volcano (link to pictures of Irazu) rises up from the edge of town, and although it's quiet these days, it has not always been so peaceful. Earthquakes have damaged Cartago repeatedly over the years, so today there are few of the old colonial buildings left standing. In the center of the city, a public park winds through the ruins of a large church that was destroyed in 1910, before it could be finished. (link to picture of Ruins) Construction was abandoned after the quake, and today the ruins are a neatly manicured park, with quiet paths and plenty of benches.

Cartago's most famous building is the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles (the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels), which is dedicated to the patron saint of Costa Rica and stands on the east side of town. Within the walls of this Byzantine-style church is a shrine containing the tiny figure of La Negrita, the Black Virgin, which is nearly lost amid its ornate altar. Legend has it that La Negrita first revealed herself on this site to a peasant girl in 1635. Miraculous healing powers have been attributed to La Negrita, and over the years, thousands of pilgrims have come to the shrine seeking cures for their illnesses and difficulties. The walls of the shrine are covered with a fascinating array of tiny silver images left as thanks for cures effected by La Negrita. Outside the church, vendors sell a wide selection of these trinkets, as well as little candle replicas of La Negrita. August 2 is the day dedicated to La Negrita, and on this day, tens of thousands of people walk to Cartago from San José and elsewhere in the country, in devotion to this powerful statue (do not try to travel from San Jose to Orosi on August 2nd – all roads are reserved for the walkers.