See a procession leave the cathedral, watch flower-strewn cars pull in for a blessing or join a lavish religious festival at the town’s central church.
European art, 17th-century architecture and strange religious rituals await you at the Copacabana Cathedral (Catedral de la Virgen de Candelaria). Time your visit to this bright-white church in the heart of Copacabana correctly to join in a religious celebration or a solemn pilgrimage to a nearby hilltop.
The Copacabana Cathedral is spread over a wide courtyard surrounded by whitewashed walls. Study the beautiful details of its Moorish design. For instance, notice the tile mosaic on the arched gateway into the courtyard. Religious sculptures stand throughout the grounds.
Catholic pilgrims travel from throughout the region to pray at the Virgin of Candelaria statue within the cathedral. Ever since this sculpture appeared in the late 16th century, it has been thought to bring good luck. Study the statue as you tour the interior of the cathedral.
The cathedral’s grounds also feature a museum, the Museo de la Catedral. Here, browse religious artwork from Europe and South America. Plus, don’t miss the set of origami cranes in the cathedral’s collection. A Japanese woman sent these to the Copacabana Cathedral because she wanted her unborn child to be born gifted.
Join in a religious ceremony at the cathedral. On February 2, the Copacabana Cathedral serves as the site for the Fiesta de la Virgen de Candelaria. This festival of regional food, music and dance is an excellent way to sample area culture and cuisine. Drop by the cathedral on Good Friday to see a procession of religious pilgrims leading from the church to the hilltop of Cerro Calvario on the lakeside. Thousands attend the candlelit ceremony, which commemorates the plight of Christ.
Visit the cathedral during the Bendicion de Movilidades (Car Blessing) to see an unusual ritual. During this ceremony, car owners from throughout the region spread ribbons and flowers on their vehicles and drive them to the cathedral. There, priests grant the drivers and their cars a blessing.
Located on the Plaza 2 de Febrero in the heart of Copacabana, the Copacabana Cathedral can be reached on foot from the Copacabana lakeside. Admission is free to both the cathedral and the museum, which are open daily.