The Department of Nariño has been, throughout its history, a meeting point for various religious communities of the Roman Catholic Church, who arrived starting in the 16th century with missionary purposes.  

The Mercedarians, Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, Conceptionists, Jesuits, Philippians, Marists, Eudists, Carmelites, and many other orders arrived and established deep ties with the local inhabitants, including indigenous people and Afro-Americans.  

In this way, faith grew and consolidated in the southeast of the country. Its strength is expressed in the different artistic and cultural manifestations of the region, which include various ways of approaching the sacred.

The Christian religious architecture became the symbol of a fervent community, faithful and lovers of the beauty of religious art, who wanted to leave the new generations a manifestation of the splendor of an era. This concentration of spirituality is raised in several temples of marked beauty that adorn cities in Nariño like stars.  

You may also be interested in: What to do in Nariño? 7 plans for a weekend

Temples rich in styles, resulting from different eras, were built in all cardinal points. The Santuario de las Lajas in Ipiales, in the south of Nariño, is widely known and photographed. In the north, there is the Hermitage of Santa María Magdalena in San Lorenzo, to the east the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Playa in San Pablo, and to the west, the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Visitation of Ancuya and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in the municipality of Sandoná.

The Basilica

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary is located in the main square Simón Bolívar, in Sandoná. This town, whose name in the Quechua language translates to "Flower of the distant mountain," is located about fifty kilometers from Pasto, the capital of the Department. 

In these southern lands, coffee and panela are produced, and this architectural piece is considered one of the most beautiful in the country.  

Declared National Cultural Interest by the Ministry of Culture in 1999, this monumental work reflects the spirituality of its parishioners and their efforts to gather the resources to build it, their generosity, faith, and tenacity to make it a reality. 

It took fifteen years of Sandoná's history and the active participation of the municipality’s residents, led by priest Luis Rodríguez Muñoz, to complete this unique piece with marked late Gothic style - both inside and outside.  

The design of this temple is inspired by the cathedrals of Burgos (Spain), Cologne (Germany), and New York (United States). Construction began in 1946, and the renowned master builder José Faringango Checa, who had participated in the construction of the Santuario de las Lajas, was hired.   

You may also be interested in: Activities for the end of the year in Colombia

Its walls are made of carved volcanic stone, extracted from a nearby mine and gathered near the Ingenio River bridge; it also incorporated materials from an old indigenous temple construction.

All materials were donated by the local residents, including lime, sand, and wood. The floor tiles were brought from a factory in Pasto. The temple is 23 meters high, 54 meters long, and its towers reach 66 meters. It has three naves and five entrances.

Inside, above the main altar, there is an exceptional piece of realism. Carved in cedar wood for eleven months, the ‘Cristo Crucificado’ is an image of the Lord of Miracles that measures 4.75 meters and was crafted by the master from Pasto, Alfonso Zambrano. This altar image is the largest in South America and arrived at the temple in December 1967.

Another treasure inside is the images of the Patroness of Sandoná, Our Lady of the Rosary, and Saint Anthony of Padua, which were donated by the French government between 1907-1909.

This historical monument is part of the sentiment and idiosyncrasy of the inhabitants of Sandoná and Nariño in general, who proudly await visitors throughout the year so they can admire and experience the beauty of this great work.