Shrine of Our Lady of Candelaria

The devotion to the Virgin of Candelaria began with a 17th-century apparition to miners and has grown into one of South America's largest festivals, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In the 1600s, an image of the Virgin of Candelaria appeared in the mines of Laykakota, near Puno. The miners who discovered her were astonished by the apparition. Word reached the Viceroy Count de Lemos, who was moved to arrange for the image to be sent to Copacabana, Bolivia.

The Jesuits entrusted with this mission brought the image not to Bolivia but to Puno, where it arrived and where devotees claimed it as their own. February 2—Candlemas in the Catholic calendar—was established as her feast day.

Multiple origin legends coexist. Some say the Virgin was a young woman who defended Puno from Bolivian attack. Others believe she emerged from Lake Titicaca itself. Many see her as Pachamama in Christian form. These stories do not compete but accumulate, enriching the figure who receives devotion.

The festival that developed around this devotion grew over centuries. Traditional Aymara and Quechua dances merged with Catholic processional forms. Indigenous costumes incorporated Christian symbolism. The resulting synthesis created a festival that honors both Andean and Catholic traditions while generating something unique.

In the modern era, the Candelaria festival has achieved international recognition. UNESCO designated it Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, acknowledging its profound cultural and spiritual significance. The festival now draws up to 50,000 dancers, 15,000 musicians, and hundreds of thousands of spectators to Puno each February.