Sanctuario de Las Lajas

Near the border town of Ipiales is an amazing church built in a ravine which is a centre for pilgrimage from all over Colombia and Ecuador. The church is built over a rock where the image of the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared in the 18^th century.

As you walk down into the ravine the rock walls are covered with plaques giving thanks for the help that Virgin Mary has given to families and individuals.

The church itself was only completed in the 1940’s replacing a previous church on the same site. In fact the first chapel was built in 1803. The present church is in a Neo-Gothic style and is very impressive – the impact increased by the waterfalls that surround the church and the gushing river running underneath.

Under the church there is a small museum which explains the history the Church. Bizarrely there is 7 legged calf and a two headed sheep down here  – with no explanation whatsoever.