Details About Cartago, Costa Rica

Cartago is located just to the south of San Jose. It is one of the oldest settlements in the country.

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A city blessed with rich history and culture, Cartago  was the original capital of Costa Rica. Established in 1563 by Juan Vasquez de Coronado, this city has the honor of being the oldest Spanish settlement in the country.  The Capital of Costa Rica until 1822, one of the primary reasons why San Jose was made the capital was because Cartago was located too close to the foot of Volcano Irazu, which almost destroyed the entire city in 1723.

One reason so many people visit Cartago is because located here, in the largest church of Cartago, the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles, is the miraculous La Negrita. This statue is known all over Costa Rica for its healing powers, and many faithful believers visit the city every year on August 2 after a long pilgrimage from many parts of the country.