Ujarras Ruins, Cartago

The Ujarras Ruines, built between 1575 and 1580 in the small village of Ujarras, are one of Costa Rica's rare Spanish colonial ruins. The ruins of Iglesia de Nuestra Seora de la Limpia Concepción, one of the country's oldest churches, may be found on the site. The church is encircled by lovely, well-kept grounds.

A local indigenous Huetar fisherman discovered a box with a Virgin Mary image on it, according to mythology. They were, however, unable to transport it from the spot where they discovered it. The church was then built on the site. The Virgin Mary's spirit is said to have forewarned people of a terrible flood and performed miracles for the villagers.

The church in Ujarrás has undergone various restorations. The church was constructed using calico, a limestone-based construction technology (stone masonry). The church's façade, altar, and other features have all been restored. Both the main and back façades were adapted during the 2010 restoration campaign to make the historic structures more resistant to seismic activity, which is frequent in Costa Rica. Additionally, sufficient drainage around the foundations was installed to prevent water from reaching the old walls.

Location: Cartago Province, Costa Rica