In Colonial times,Cartago served as Costa Rica's Capital. Now this provincial capital,located at the base of Irazú Volcano. Remains an important religios center. On August 2 thousands of pilgrims walk to Cartago to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of the Angels.

The Basílica of the Lady of Los Angeles, is a famous pilgrimage sanctuary of the miraculous Black Virgin of the Angels.

A few blocks from the Basilica lie the ruins of what was to have been a Cathedral in the city center. An earthquake destroyed the Church in 1910 before workers finished building it.The town has made the ruins in to a park, with a pond, flower gardens and pathways

The Orosi Valley is also one of the attractive sites of this province, where you can visit the Lankaster Botanical Park, famous for its great variety of orchids and other tropical plants.

On the other side of the Orosi valley lie the ruins of Ujarras church. Spanish colonists built the church in 1693. It was abandoned in 1833 when the village was flooded. Now the crumbling stone walls form the centerpiece of an incredibly peaceful park, surrounded by fields of coffe, bananas .Hedges of purple flowers burst from wall around the church.