La Chinita

The town of Chiquinquira is famous in Colombia for one thing.

The altar of the impressive basilica on the Plaza Bolivar features the oldest painting in Colombia.

It's the Virgin of the Rosary, painted in 1555 in Tunja by a Spanish artist.

How the painting got to be a big deal in Chiquinquira is an interesting story.

After it was completed it began to fade because of poor paints and because it was not protected from the elements. In 1577 it was taken down and moved to Chiquinquira and put into storage.

A woman named Maria Ramos found the painting in storage and grew fond of it, praying to the Virgin despite the faded condition of the painting.

Miraculously, in 1586, while Maria was praying she saw he painting restore itself to its original condition.

Today "La Chinita," as the painting is known to the locals, in the focal point of the altar.

Other miracles have been attributed to the painting and pious Colombianos make pilgrimages to Chiquinquira to pray to the Virgin.

She still looks pretty faded to me.