The city of Cartago in Costa Rica is one of the most plagued by earth quakes, floodings and other disasters. Its history, like that of the classic Cartago of Hannibal, is characterized by destruction. Disaster started soon after the foundation of Cartago in 1563 by the Spanish conquistador Vásques de Coronado, because he chose a location that was flooded on a regular basis and nicknamed Cartago ‘the city of mud’. Two years later the entire settlement packed up and moved two times in a period of two years before it came to the current location of Cartago. But there were more setbacks in Cartago’s history. One of the landmarks of Cartago is perhaps the most interesting church of Costa Rica. Well, they are ruins of a church, which can be found in the park in the center of Cartago. Building of the church had begun in 1574 and it had to be rebuild five times because of the devastating effects of earthquakes. When a huge earthquake hit Costa Rica in 1970 the church in Cartago was left in ruins for good. But headstrong as the people of Cartago are, they started building a new one once again. This time on another location. The Basilica of Our Lady in Cartago is a very special church, not only because of it’s distinctive Byzantine architecture, but mainly because it is the religious center of the Roman Catholic church in Costa Rica. Every year on the 2nd of August thousands of pilgrims from all over Costa Rica travel on foot to the basilica to worship the Black Madonna of Los Angeles, better known as La Negrita. It is an impressive sight to see the lines of people coming down from the mountains and walking on the roads towards Cartago. Reason for this pilgrimage to Cartago are the appearances of Maria to a native little girl in the year 1635. You can visit the crypt in Cartago’s basilica, built right on top of the rock where the appearances occurred. Presumed to possess healing powers many Costa Ricans travel to Cartago to pray and ask La Negrita for help. The basilica of Cartago holds a large collection of miniatures of hearts, legs and arms, left behind by people to thank La Negrita for her healing powers. Although La Negrita is the official patron saint of Costa Rica, the people of Cartago have lost their seat as capitol of Costa Rica to San José. Although this happened in 1823, this rivalry can still be felt in during sport events when San José and Cartago meet. Being in Costa Rica it is certainly worth it to visit Cartago, since the city is located only an hour away from San José. Beside the churches Cartago has more attractions. Cartago’s Central Market offers all it’s local products colorful displayed, stroll through the Lankaster gardens and admire the beautiful orchids or take a dip in one of the hot springs generated by Costa Rica’s Irázu volcano. The country side around Cartago is breathtaking and dominated the famous volcano. Since the climate in Cartago is relatively cool compared to the rest of the Central Valley, it will probably be one of the few places in Costa Rica where you will wear a sweater… during the day that is!