Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana, Bolivia
Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana is a Roman Catholic shrine located in the town of Copacabana, Bolivia. The shrine became famous for the 84 cm (33 inches) tall statue of the Virgin of Copacabana (also known as Virgen de la Candelaria, the Dark Virgin of the Lake) made of maguey woods. The statue which is believed to have miraculous healing powers was created in the late 1570's by Francisco Tito Yupanqui.The shrine originally built from mud and brick in the 16th century was extended between 1610 and 1619 as the number of pilgrims increased, while the present Spanish colonial style structure was completed in 1820. The statue of the Virgin of Copacabana was canonized by the Vatican in 1925 and the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana became the most important pilgrimage site in Bolivia.
