Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana

Shrine of the Dark Virgin, Patroness of Bolivia, on Plaza 2 de Febrero. The current church, Renaissance with a strong Mudejar imprint and a mestizo Baroque interior, was built between 1601 and 1619; the atrium and its corner chapels were finished around 1640. The image, carved in maguey wood by Francisco Tito Yupanqui, arrived in town on 2 February 1583 and was canonically crowned on 1 August 1925. Visit the atrium, the open chapel, the main altarpiece, the Virgin's camarín, the candle chapel, the museum and the blessing of vehicles.

Open daily roughly from 6:00 to 21:00 depending on the day's masses; the camarín and the museum keep their own hours (ask in the atrium). Free entry to the church; the museum charges a small fee. It is a place of worship: cover shoulders and knees, no flash and no photos during mass. Vehicles are blessed around 10:00 and 14:30. During feasts (2 February, Holy Week, 5–6 August) book lodging months ahead.

Stories

Documented history

Backed by archaeological or historical sources.

The Virgin of Tito Yupanqui

The image was carved by Francisco Tito Yupanqui, a descendant of the Inca Huayna Cápac. His first figure, made of clay, was removed from the altar by a priest who found it crude; Tito travelled to Potosí, learned the craft in a Spanish sculptor's workshop and came back with a Virgin of maguey wood, stuccoed and gilded, with a dark face. She entered Copacabana on 2 February 1583, Candlemas, and on 1 August 1925 she was canonically crowned and proclaimed Queen of the Bolivian Nation.

Oral tradition

Memory passed down through generations in the lake communities.

The Virgin who never leaves the church

The original carving never leaves the shrine; a replica goes out in the processions. Popular belief holds that if the true image left its home, the waters of Titicaca would overflow and sweep the town away. That is why, since the 1925 coronation, the Mamita has not crossed the door again.