Las Lajas Cathedral in Colombia

The neo-Gothic cathedral of Las Lajas (Santuario de Nuestra Señora de las Lajas), towering over the Guaitara River, resembles a castle-fortress. One of the most visited temples in Colombia is a frame for the rock icon Senora de las Lajas - a miraculous image of the face of the Virgin. Legend has it: in 1754, a deaf-and-dumb Indian girl, Rose, announced the appearance of the Mother of God, who restored her sight and gave her hearing. The icon, recognized as healing, attracted pilgrims from Colombia and Ecuador, but the tiny cave could not accommodate everyone who wanted to touch the face of the saint. In 1794, the first chapel was built where believers could bring flowers and candles.
The Cathedral of Las Lajas, rebuilt three times, acquired its present appearance in 1948; at the same time, a 30-meter arched bridge was built over a rocky gorge. The magnificent temple in the neo-Gothic style serves as a bridge in a more global sense: the cathedral is a symbol of peace and harmony between the Ecuadorian and Colombian peoples. Not far from the church, on the rocks, you can find hundreds of tablets with gratitude for healing and help.