The Sanctuary in Las Lajas

The Sanctuary in Las Lajas is a neo-gothic church built between 1926-1944 on a bridge over a river gorge. It seems quite strange to construct a church on a bridge (or more correct construct a bridge with a Chuch on it) but it is Colombians we are talking about here. The story tells that the image of the Virgin Mary appeared on a vertical rock in the gorge, about 45 m above the river, and what does one have to do at the place Virgin Mary appears? I think you guessed it; build a church!

The building was constructed at such height that the vertical rock now forms the main altar in the church. The sanctuary is visited by hoards of pilgrims every year and an ever-growing list of supposedly occurred miracles is attributed the place. Who knows, maybe it really is the power of Virgin Mary?

But personally, after having seen it, I think would have given up before I laid the first brick.


Pictures: Santuario de Las Lajas