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The hamlet of Morcá is the site of a huge church that attracts religious pilgrims from all over Colombia.
Introduction to Morcá
This small town in the department of Boyacá has about 1,000 inhabitants and is on the road between Sogamoso and Monguí. Coal mining and agriculture are the main economic activities. The annual festival takes place between December 25th and 27th annually.
Plaza
The plaza is pleasant. It contains some palms and has a few colorful colonial buildings around it. There’s a fountain on one side and there’s also a basketball court nearby. When pilgrims arrive, they fill the plaza and attract merchants selling all kinds of goods, including snacks, religious items, and crafts.
Church of Our Lady of Morcá
The Church of Our Lady of Morcá (Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Morcá) is on the north side of the plaza. It’s the focal point of the pilgrimages and has an interesting story. Prior to the 18th century, a shepherd girl named Anita Cáceres discovered an image of the Virgin on a rock. A small chapel was later built to house the rock. As word got out, the pilgrims started going to see the chapel around 1920. The current church was built later to accommodate the pilgrims, who flock to the small town on the first Saturday of each month.
The rock continuing the image is held behind the altar of the church, and there’s a shrine at the grotto where the rock was found. It’s near the church but we didn’t visit.
