Las Ruinas de la Parroquia

Las Ruinas de la Parroquia, or Las Ruinas as they are commonly called, are one of Cartago's greatest calling cards; only the skeleton of a Romanesque church including some walls and staircases remain, but ever since its inception Las Ruinas has been an attraction to all who know about it. Originally, the church was intended to be devoted to the apostle St. James, but an earthquake interrupted progress, and though re-construction began in the second half of the nineteenth century, another earthquake in 1910 halted further building for good. Even without being finished, Las Ruinas have always drawn the attention of visitors and locals.