Las Lajas Cathedral is a beautiful neo-Gothic cathedral outside the Colombian border town of Ipiales.  The church spans a gorge where, a legend has it, an image of the Virgin Mary appeared to a deaf-mute girl in 1754, causing her to speak for the first time.

Drawn by both the spiritual legend and the glorious architecture, the church is a popular spot for Colombian tourists.  It’s definitely worth a look if you’re on the road to or from Ecuador.  It’s an easy detour; just take a shared taxi to and from the Ipiales bus terminal.  It only takes about an hour to get there and see the church.

Candles lit by pilgrims.