A place of pilgrimage where devotees venerate the Lord of Luren, seeking his protection and manifesting their faith.
Description
It was built over 36 years through the efforts of the entire community, participating in the history of the city of Ica. Its architecture is unique in the world and constitutes a beautiful building that deserves to be preserved for future generations.
The style of this temple is neoclassical with a Latin cross floor plan. It is characterized by three portals with brick arches. Its history dates back to the construction of the old hermitage on May 13, 1556, a time when the city of Ica had not yet been founded and was then called Villa de Valverde.
Location
Located 900 meters south of the Plaza de Armas.
Attractions
Inside, you can see a large dome supported by enormous columns, featuring the image of the Dark Christ, known as the Lord of Luren. He stands with the Virgin Mary standing and looking down at him, while the statue of the weeping Magdalene is embraced at the bottom of the cross. The Christ is approximately 1.80 meters tall and has human hair.
The festival is celebrated in October and Holy Week, with a massive procession.
Hours
Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday to Sunday: 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lord of Luren, Ica
The Lord of Luren is the patron saint of the Ica region and is highly venerated in that part of the country due to the miracles attributed to him, the most recent being his survival from the 2007 Pisco earthquake. At that time, his temple was destroyed, but the image remained standing. Its central date is the third Monday of October.
History
History tells us that the effigy of Christ arrived in Peru in 1558. Its arrival was due to a shipwreck that forced the crew to throw a heavy load into the sea. Among the bundles thrown and later found by fishermen was the current image of the Lord of Luren, which was taken to the convent of San Francisco. Versions indicate that the parish priest of the Church of the Barefoot was concerned about not having images for his temple, and upon learning of the landing of some effigies abandoned in the warehouses of San Francisco, he requested their purchase without knowing their contents.
The crates containing these statues were shipped to Pisco. History maintains that the image of the Lord of Luren was traveling on the back of a donkey and was lost at a place near the Ica Valley called Rodamonte. Some townspeople saw the cargo and informed the authorities, who decided to open the box because the donkey refused to continue moving. Everyone was greatly surprised, and their devotion immense when they realized the contents: the image of the current Lord of Luren, which has remained in the same place ever since, where a church will later be built in his honor.
Among the activities held for the celebrations of the Lord of Luren is the traditional procession that marches through the main streets of Ica from nightfall until dawn, amid the devotion surrounding this festival and the faithful's gratitude for the blessings received. Novenas and masses in honor of the Lord of Luren are also present. The traditional novena for this festival is a nine-day religious celebration consisting of prayers prayed for blessings and invoked by the Lord.
Other Tourist Attractions in Ica
The Nazca Lines and Geoglyphs.
They consist of a network of lines and drawings of animals, plants, and humans in an area 50 kilometers long by 15 kilometers wide. They were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994. To observe the lines in their true dimensions, it is necessary to fly over the area in a small plane, although they can also be partially observed from a 12-meter-high observation deck.
Huacachina Lagoon.
This tourist attraction is located 5 kilometers from the city of Ica and was created by the emergence of underground currents. It is surrounded by vegetation in the middle of the coastal desert and during the 1960s was one of the most exclusive resorts, with a boardwalk, houses, and hotels being built around it, most notably the Hotel Mossone, a favorite vacation spot for many prominent figures of the time. The lagoon's surroundings are notable for their high dunes, where activities such as sandboarding and sand cart rides are popular, as well as boat rides on the lagoon.
The San Fernando National Reserve
Extends 155,000 hectares and is located in part of the Santiago district (Ica province) and in the districts of Changuillo, Nasca, and San Juan de Marcona (Nasca province). It was recognized as a "Reserved Zone" in 2009 and later as a "National Reserve" in 2011. The RNSF stands out as the second most important reserve in the department, after the Paracas National Reserve. It is an area where marine outcrops, biological diversity, marine currents, relict forests, hills, and reefs, among other geographical features, are concentrated. It is also notable for its winds, scenic beauty, and isolation, creating priority sites for conservation.
