Chapel of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, Colonial religious monument in La Ceja del Tambo, Colombia.
The Chapel of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is a colonial church on the eastern side of La Ceja's main square, with a rectangular single nave. Its facade, rebuilt in 1866 by Father José Joaquín Isaza Ruíz, carries wooden statues of Saints Peter and Paul brought from the old facade of the Carmen church. Inside are a carved wooden altarpiece, a pulpit, and paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries, including works by Gregorio Arce y Ceballos.
Construction of the chapel began in 1820 on land donated by María Josefa Marulanda, replacing an earlier structure from El Hato that had been demolished in 1792. The building later became an official repository for religious artworks and evolved into an important site for preserving Colombian cultural heritage.
The chapel holds the tombs of poet Gregorio Gutiérrez González and his wife Julia de Isaza, former president Juan de Dios Aranzazu and businessman José María Bernal. Since 1968 it has also served as a pantheon for La Ceja's illustrious sons, and the statues of Saints Peter and Paul carved in wood on the facade came from the old facade of the Carmen church.
The chapel sits within walking distance in the center of La Ceja del Tambo and is easily accessible from the town center. Visitors should allow time to examine the artworks inside carefully, as the collection is detailed and rewards close observation.
The building received official designation as a Temple Museum of Religious Art in 1968, making it one of the first of its kind in the region. This classification transformed it into an early example of converting historic churches into museums to safeguard their artistic heritage.
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