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Post by scumbuster on Jan 17, 2017 5:46:35 GMT -5
Neo-Gothic Colombian Mountain Church Becomes Major Tourist Attraction IPIALES, Colombia – The Las Lajas Sanctuary, a church located at an altitude of 2,900 meters (9,508 feet) in the Colombian Andes, has become a major draw for tourists, with some calling the neo-Gothic basilica the world’s most beautiful church. More than 750,000 people visit the church annually, with about 120,000 pilgrims arriving during Holy Week at the church, which was built between 1916 and 1949. The church, located on the edge of the Guaitara River canyon and less than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the border with Ecuador, is dedicated Our Lady of the Rosary of Las Lajas. Thousands of pilgrims arrive at the church every day, fulfilling vows made to the virgin. The pilgrims are joined by scores of tourists eager to view the monumental architecture of the church, which is between the cities of Ipiales and Potosi in the southwestern province of Nariño. On Jan. 13, the Trade, Industry and Tourism Ministry added the Las Lajas Sanctuary to the list of attractions on the Corredor Turistico del Sur, one of 12 tourist routes designed by the government to boost visitor numbers in the region. www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2429187&CategoryId=12393
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Post by elexpatriado on Jan 19, 2017 16:54:29 GMT -5
lots to seen in Narino. Some Colombians say it is the most beautiful Departamento. Guess this is subjective though
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Post by caliconnection on Jan 19, 2017 19:47:40 GMT -5
Very scenic - especially from Pasto to the border. Volcanos, mountains, rivers, etc. Has the potential for a lot of outdoor pursuits such as mountain climbing and mountain biking. The problem is the local population are very battle scarred and have seen more than their fair share of the war. A lot of them are reluctant to venture too far away from the towns and into the countryside. I always talk about biking from Pasto to Mocoa and they look at me in horror.
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Post by gallito on Jan 19, 2017 21:30:47 GMT -5
Very scenic - especially from Pasto to the border. Volcanos, mountains, rivers, etc. Has the potential for a lot of outdoor pursuits such as mountain climbing and mountain biking. The problem is the local population are very battle scarred and have seen more than their fair share of the war. A lot of them are reluctant to venture too far away from the towns and into the countryside. I always talk about biking from Pasto to Mocoa and they look at me in horror. Hard to believe that the reality of making such a mtb journey is now doable;just imagine a few years ago it was a red zone, not to mention a bus trip along the road of death was scary enough.
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Post by caliconnection on Jan 19, 2017 23:38:52 GMT -5
Yes indeed. Still plenty of red zones around Pasto though. I still can't go and visit mi suegra. Shame lol.
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Post by billyb on Jan 19, 2017 23:49:18 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't think I would be doing the Nariño tour just yet.
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