Las Lajas

The Santuario de Las Lajas is a spectacular neo-Gothic basilica built into the rock face of the Guáitara Gorge near Ipiales in southern Colombia. Constructed on a stone bridge about 50 meters above the river, the church seems to grow right out of the dark rock and is one of South America’s most famous landmarks and most photographed structures. The pilgrimage site dates back to a Marian apparition in 1754 and continues to attract pilgrims and visitors from all over the world to this day. The natural rock face behind the altar, the countless ex-voto plaques lining the entrance, and the impressive location near the border with Ecuador make Las Lajas one of the most extraordinary religious buildings in Latin America.