San Pedro de los Milagros

About

San Pedro de los Milagros was officially founded in 1659, though the area had been settled by gold miners for years before that. The settlement remained small through the end of the 18th century, consisting of only 3 houses and a church in 1786. By 1808 there were 75 houses, and in 1813, the town had grown to 2,000 residents. The main attraction here is the beautiful Baroque basilica, which can be seen from afar thanks to its gleaming, pointed domes. The interior is one of the most opulent in Colombia, with gold and silver decorations, 25 large frescoes on the ceiling, and a very convincing replica of Pietà by Michelangelo. But what has made the church one of Colombia’s major pilgrimage sites is its 18th century crucifix, aptly known as the Lord of Miracles, for the boons it’s said to grant.