Shrine of the Virgin of the Cloud, Catholic shrine in Azogues, Ecuador.
The Shrine of the Virgin of the Cloud is a stone sanctuary located on Abuga hill in Azogues. Inside, a high altar features intricate wood carvings decorated with gold leaf and houses the central statue of the Virgin that pilgrims come to see.
The sanctuary was built gradually using stone extracted from the surrounding Abuga hill, with construction spanning several decades of the 20th century. An earthquake in the 1970s caused structural damage to supporting walls, prompting major restoration work.
The shrine serves as a spiritual focal point where visitors observe the gold-leaf wood carvings of the altar and the Virgin statue. People gather here for prayer and contemplation, creating a sense of reverence that visitors can experience when entering the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is accessible to visitors during regular hours and welcomes pilgrims and tourists throughout the year. Priests are present to conduct services, particularly during major religious festivals when many people gather.
The sanctuary survived a powerful 1971 earthquake that damaged its supporting walls, leading to extensive restoration work that preserved the structure. Visitors can still observe traces of this natural disaster and the recovery efforts that kept the site standing.
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