Keep enjoying with us the visits to various parts of Costa Rica's treasury of sights and sounds.
COSTA
RICAN COMPASS
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THE Province of Cartago --OROSI VALLEY
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Home to the ruins of one of the oldest churches in Costa Rica, the tiny town of Ujarras is found in the amazingly gorgeous Orosi Valley. Located in the province of Cartago, northeast of Orosi near the Lago de Cachi and east of Paraiso, Ujarras is definitely worth a visit while touring this glorious region....
Constructed in the 1560's, the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion now sits in ruins due to recurring floods and earthquakes that have hit the area. Built near the Rio Reventazón, this church was once home to a miraculous painting of the Virgin. According to local lore, a painting of the Virgin was found in a box by some native Huetar Indian fishermen who brought it to Ujarras, after which it would not move. A church was then built on this site by the locals to commemorate the Virgin. In 1666, it is believed that the Virgin also helped the residents of the area to defeat British pirates who had invaded the Caribbean Coast....A magnificent example of Spanish colonial architecture and the way of life at that time, this church’s ruins now sits in a beautifully landscaped garden and has been declared a national monument by the Costa Rican government....Today, an annual Mass is held at this location on the Sunday closest to April 14th to celebrate the feast of the La Virgin de Ujarras. A procession is also taken out from Paraiso to here with lots of music and food to celebrate the day. From http://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cID=237
Home of the oldest church currently in use in Costa Rica the Iglesia de San Jose Orosi, the small colonial town of Orosi is located in the charming Orosi Valley in Cartago province. With majestic surrounding vistas, picturesque scenic settings and amazing river views, this quiet town is a nature lover’s delight. Close to the capital San Jose and nearby the provincial capital of Cartago, Orosi is a must visit in the region with its gorgeous climate, fertile soil, lush greenery and thermal baths.
Internationally recognized for its noteworthy collections of epiphytes, the Lankester Botanical Garden was established in 1973 as a center for the exhibition, conservation and research of tropical epiphytic plants, with a special interest in orchids. On 11 hectares , the field collections, collections in greenhouses and secondary forests host over 3,000 species of plants.
The Lankester Botanical Garden 's history goes back to the 1940's when the British naturalist and orchidologist, Charles H. Lankester , became interested in the study and culture of Costa Rica 's epiphytic plants. As an amateur botanist, he collaborated with the most prominent orchidologists of his time and dedicated his life to the creation of a private garden in his farm. After his death, the importance of preserving his garden became evident. Through the joint efforts of the American Orchid Society and the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, the garden of “don Carlos” was donated to the University of Costa Rica on March 2nd, 1973, with the promise to transform it into a botanical garden. With dedication and much effort, the Lankester Botanical Garden has become one of the most active and important botanical institutions of the Neotropics.
Information from http://www.jardinbotanicolankester.org/ing/index.html
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This site was last updated 08/28/07
