Sidebar #66 - Cartago Province

Cartago is the smallest of Costa Rica’s 7 provinces. However, its capital, Cartago, is the country’s oldest city. Cartago was the original capital of Costa Rica before the nation's capital was relocated in San Jose. Cartago city is roughly 30 minutes from San Jose, depending on traffic. The province lies east and southeast from San Jose. Although there is not a lot of old colonial history to see in Costa Rica, the city of Cartago has ruins in its downtown center. Cartago is a mountainous and largely rural province that is known throughout Costa Rica for its heavy rains. This results in it also being a primary coffee growing region, specifically in the Tarrazú area.

Cartago is also known for being the religious center of Costa Rica. Each year, thousands of Ticos participate in “La Romeria”, which is a pilgrimage on foot to the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles. A fun fact about Cartago, is that despite being Costa Rica's most religious province, it was the only province out of 7 provinces in which the far-right candidate, and President-elect, Laura Fernandez, did not receive the most support in February.




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