⛪ Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels (Cartago)

About This Sacred Site

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Cartago is Costa Rica's most important religious site. The basilica houses La Negrita, a small (20 cm) dark stone statue of the Virgin Mary reportedly found by a mixed-race girl named Juana Pereira in 1635. According to tradition, the statue kept miraculously returning to the spot where it was found, prompting the construction of a shrine. On August 2 each year, an estimated 2.5 million pilgrims (half the country's population) walk to Cartago to honor La Negrita.

Spiritual Significance

The basilica enshrines La Negrita, a tiny 20-centimeter dark stone statue of the Virgin Mary discovered in 1635, which is revered as Costa Rica’s patroness. Each year on August 2, approximately 2.5 million Costa Ricans participate in La Romería, a pilgrimage involving walking long distances to the basilica to honor La Negrita, reflecting deep popular devotion. The pilgrimage incorporates prayers from the Roman Missal and the Rosary, with pilgrims often carrying flowers and candles as offerings. The basilica celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels with a solemn Mass led by the archbishop, and the site functions as a focal point for national religious identity. The statue is credited with numerous miracles, documented in ecclesiastical records, reinforcing its theological significance. Pilgrims engage in acts of penance and thanksgiving, demonstrating enduring faith in intercessory prayer to the Virgin Mary.

Key Facts

• •La Negrita is a tiny (20 cm) dark stone statue of the Virgin Mary found in 1635
• •An estimated 2.5 million Costa Ricans walk to the basilica on August 2 — the Romería
• •The Romería pilgrimage is one of the largest in the Americas relative to population
• •The statue reportedly kept returning to the spot where it was found, inspiring the shrine
• •The basilica's crypt contains a spring whose water is believed to have healing properties

Location

Coordinates: 9.8626, -83.9209