Day 3

Travel log

Oaxaca alternative

TEMPLE OF THE

VIRGIN OF JUQUILA

The community of Santa Catarina Juquila was founded in 1272. According to ancient texts, the first inhabitants came from the region of Mixteca, who settled on the banks of a mighty river that provided them with the proper conditions for a good development beginning to populate what is now Juquila. In 1725 for its religious importance tourist was given the category of municipal head and political district.

TEMPLE OF THE VIRGIN OF JUQUILA

This majestic work was built between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this construction presents a certain neoclassical style.

The temple has a length of 65 meters and 15 meters in height; Which form a spacious room, has a half-orange vault, two towers, a choir, a baptistery, the dressing room and two sacristy. Currently the atrium has lost its original farda because they were replaced by iron bars, being integrated to the central square of the locality and in whose sides it is the market and the municipal palace.

Bishop Angel Maldonado, on June 30, 1719, signed the decree by which the sanctuary of the virgin would be the Temple of Santa Catarina Juquila.

EL PEDIMENTO CHAPEL

Just 10 minutes from Santa Catarina Juquila is the place called El Pedimento, a chapel where the reflection and meditation of faithful believers come true.

Thousands of people congregate to visit this place, some to ask for their health, for their home and even for something material, depends on the devotion for these desires are fulfilled or come true. Others come only to give thanks for the favors or miracles received, but most offer a cross as a symbol of their faith. Some people offers flowers, some gold garments, letters, objects, etc.

The offering of candlesticks in devout places it's a tradition and the Pedimentos chapel is not the exception, inside, there is a place of candles where you can leave candlesticks without any problem.

The stalls of relics found in this area sells wooden images, rosaries, scapulars and miracles, etc., which can be blessed by the sacred image of The Virgin of Santa Catarina Juquila.

Once you are in the pedimento if you want to walk to Juquila you can do it, there is a path that is in the back of the Pedimento chapel that leads you without any problem to the village of Juquila, being an approximate time of fifty minutes, walking thru this path may put you in contact with nature.