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Cartago |
Costa Rica > Cartago Province > City of Cartago
Cartago City
Originally Cartago was built by the spaniards (founded in 1563). The city was Costa Rica's first city, and would remain its only city for nearly 150 years. Cartago is also the former Capital of Costa Rica. Cartago is located approx. 15 miles southeast of San José and is the largest city on the the slopes of the Irazu Volcano. Between 1963 to 1965, the Irazu volcano was very active and practically destroyed the cities of San Jose and Cartago. There you will also find the Cartago Ruins of the First city built by the spaniards.
Perhaps the most famous building/Church in Cartago
is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels (Basílica de Nuestra Señora
de los Angeles). A structure on the east side of Cartago dedicated to the
patron saint La Negrita, the Black Virgin. As the story goes; La Negrita
the patron saint was seen in Cartago by a peasant girl in the ealy 1600's
(1635). The Black Virgin was said to have great healing powers. Years
later villagers make their way to this historic site in search of cures
for thier ailments. August 2nd is dedicated to La Negrita. On this
day tens of thousands of people walk to Cartago from San
Jose (and other towns, cities, and villiages) to honor the building
and legend.
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