The longest Marian procession in the world: The Divine Shepherdess of Barquisimeto, Venezuela

The longest Marian procession in the world: 

The Shepherdess Divine (Divina Pastora) of Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

Every year, from January 14 to the Saturday before Holy Week, the image of a virgin dressed as a shepherd visits the churches of Barquisimeto, capital of Lara State in Venezuela, beginning with a massive procession that exceeds 3 and 4 million parishioners, it is the devotion of Shepherdess Divine, come and discover it.

Her history? The devotion originated in Spain and arrived in Venezuela by the Capuchin Fathers, The famous image of Shepherdess Divine of Barquisimeto was commissioned in the year 1740 but his sculptor mistakenly sent the image to the town of Santa Rosa, when they tried to return the sculpture they tell that became heavy and this was interpreted as the sign that the virgin wanted to remain in that place. Among many, 2 miraculous facts stand out in her history: the first is that the image did not receive any damage after the earthquake of March 26, 1812 that destroyed the temple of Santa Rosa and many buildings in the country, the 2nd: It was the healing of the plague of cholera that struck the city of Barquisimeto after Father Macario Yépez organized the first procession on January 14, 1856, where he offered his life as the last victim of the disease.

From that date, year to year, the image is taken to the city of Barquisimeto with a multitude of parishioners and visitors from all over the country and the world. The activities are different before and during the procession, the month of January is the of greater tourist visits of the city of Barquisimeto.

The devotion to the Shepherdess Divine (Divina Pastora) is so ingrained that it has had an influence on art, culture and tourism. We invite you to the city of Barquisimeto so that you can enjoy both the procession and the commemorative monuments in its name, among them we have :

1) The Mantle of Mary Shepherdess Divine Monument: It is the highest Marian monument in the world, taller than the Statue of Liberty, the Christ the Redeemer or the Monument to the Peace, it is an immense viewpoint where there is a monumental kinetic sculpture of Shepherdess Divine  visible at 70 kms. There you can appreciate the most beautiful views of the twilight city, it is recommended to go before sunset.

2) Santa Rosa Town: Very cozy, it has beautiful spaces for tourism, traditional streets of colonial style, the beautiful sanctuary of the Shepherdess Divine with its museum where you can see the different costumes that the image uses every year, a viewpoint with a beautiful view of the Turbio River valley; in Santa Rosa you can buy handicrafts and traditional dishes of local cuisine.

3) Murals and Squares: Many are the works of art dedicated to the Divine Shepherdess, among the most important are: the  Shepherdess Square in the East exit of the city, "the Pastora Walk of Souls" on Lara Avenue and the mural "Devotion to the Shepherdess Divine " on Avenida Venezuela.

4) The Churches: All the churches of Barquisimeto are related to the Shepherdess Divine, since the image covers them all in its annual calendar, among the most outstanding are: The modern Metropolitan Cathedral of Barquisimeto, characterized by its transparent roof and its design avant-garde, the Church of Immaculate Conception, where the remains of Father Macario Yépez rest, among others.

In addition to these places Barquisimeto count with other monuments, parks and recreation centers

and trade that will make your visit to our city an unforgettable experience, Barquisimeto has luxury hotels and family inns, an international airport and all the amenities for your visit, but do not forget that good advice and accompaniment can help you make your visit better.

For all these reasons and more we invite you to know the devotion of the Shepherdess Divine, come and visit the city of Barquisimeto, the musical capital of Venezuela.

If you want advice or guidance contact us by mail: arawakturismovzla@gmail.com or on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1942157772716741/