Central America
Costa Rica
Province of Cartago
Cartago
Things to Do in Cartago
Ruins of the Church of Carthage

Ruins of the Church of Carthage, Cartago

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Ruins of the Church of Carthage

See all things to do
See all things to do
Ruins of the Church of Carthage
4.5
131
#4 of 26 things to do in Cartago
Historic Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
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< 1 hour
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
86 within 3 miles
Aki Cafe
19
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Dessert • Cafe • South American
Marisquería y Pescadería La Cambusa
20
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • Fast Food • Healthy
Cartago Grill
29
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Barbecue • South American • Central American
Santeria Handmade Street Food
3
208 ftAmerican • Fast Food • Fusion • Street Food
Boutique Cafe
34
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • South American • Costa Rican
Taller Gastronomico Irie
3
0.2 mi$$ - $$$
Chicago Crust
1
208 ftItalian
Apetit Reposteria
4
355 ftItalian
Class Restaurante
1
0.2 mi$$$$ • Italian
Kanalu Hamburguesas
4
0.3 miFast Food • Street Food
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Attractions
14 within 6 miles
Santiago Apostol Parish Ruins
88
29 ftChurches & Cathedrals
Museo Municipal de Cartago
17
298 ftSpeciality Museums • Art Museums
Ruinas de Cartago
6
248 ftAncient Ruins
Cartago Central Market
41
0.2 miFlea & Street Markets
Santuario Nacional Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles
670
0.5 miChurches & Cathedrals
Iglesia María Auxiliadora
26
0.3 miChurches & Cathedrals
Virgen de los Angeles Day
5
0.3 miCultural Events
Anfiteatro Municipal de Cartago
1
0.5 miTheaters
Jardin Botanico Lankester
414
2.7 miGardens
Paseo Metropoli
1
1.6 miShopping Malls
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
131 reviews
Excellent
57
Very good
52
Average
21
Poor
1
Terrible
0
I don’t have a name
Los Angeles, CA2 contributions
Hot
Lots of bugs, mosquitoes, rashes, jk it’s was wonderful!!!! so beautiful!!!!!! A recommend place to go!
Written September 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
CWRiley
Hamilton50 contributions
An interesting find!
Family
As Cartago was the former town, we thought that we would visit it in search of unique architecture. That was not the case, aside from the inside of the church. We ran into an American who lives in Costa Rica three months out the year and asked him what else was there to see in the town. He mentioned the Ruins and it was worth the short ten-minute walking from the church. After facing several calamities, it was decided not to rebuild this church and today it stands as a ruin. It is a lovely park with well-manicured grounds but you are not permitted to go within the walls of the building. This, too, reminded me of a bit of home, the Unfinished Church in St. George's, Bermuda.
Written February 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
brigadier192003
Phoenix, AZ149 contributions
a place of worship from the past.
Couples
The church was destroyed by an earthquake years ago but the city took good care of what is left of the ruins. It is about 600 meters from the Basilica. The inside grounds are neatly and wonderfully kept with trimmed grass and lovely flowering bushes and plants and some large trees offering shade to those that decide to walk through. All that is left is the outside walls, and of course, no roof. People walk around the ruins and sit on the steps, young lovers and elderly couples talking and soaking up the atmosphere. It was serene with no loud talking or laughing, as if the people feel that it was not be appropriate to do so. I believe that one day a week the gates are unlocked so people can walk inside. It would be nice if people took an umbrella to protect them for the sun and/or the rain. Take a direct bus from San Jose and save a lot of money. For 375 collones each way (1.50 total) you cannot beat the comfort of these buses and the trip is only 30-45 minutes.
Written July 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
panamama
Providence, RI772 contributions
I wasn't impressed
Couples
These ruins are neither impressive nor well cared for. They're in the middle of town, but the traffic is so bad, but there is really no place nor no reason to stop.
Written March 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JamesFFC
Maidenhead, UK653 contributions
A focal point in the town of Cartago
A nice park and fairly impressive ruins but you can't go inside and there isn't a whole lot to see once you've walked once around the ruins. Fairly impressive for a onetime visit but I wouldn't rush back.
Written November 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Harmonie
Antwerp, Belgium857 contributions
Impressive church ruins
Many churches have been built on this place, but all have been destroyed by successive earthquakes. These ruins are the remnants of the last attempt to build a church on this place, destroyed in 1910.
Built in almost black lava stone, the ruins are impressive and a little stroll through the lovely garden inside is worthwile
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Serge Arias
Cartago, Costa Rica40 contributions
Lovely place!
Solo
Lovely park inside the ruins, full of history and colorful flowers! This place is very important for the locals and a total landmark if you visit Cartago, the former capital of Costa Rica!
Written October 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Raroboy
Canada544 contributions
Beautiful gardens
Couples
Are the ruins of the iglesia de la parroquia
it got built in 1575, destroyed in the 1841 earthquake, rebuilt and then destroyed in the earthquake on April 13, 1910. Never got rebuilt. So happy they didn't tear down the walls. Is now a beautiful garden and looks stunning with the walls of the church. Could not enter and could not find any signs indicating if you could enter.
Written February 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Andrew
Devon, UK222 contributions
A little disappointing.
There are only a couple of reasons to stop off in Cartago and this is one of them. However we were disappointed that you were not allowed to wander around inside, nor was there enough information on the history of the unfinished building.
Written February 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Eliz
Dayton, OH43 contributions
Lovely ruins and a picturesque park
Couples
Wonderfully decaying church ruins, in the midst of a bustling city center. The ruins of the most recent cathedral, destroyed by a series of earthquakes, aren't as old as they seem, but lovely and mysterious nonetheless. The rough hewn foundation rocks are pretty impressive. Seeing the way the the teens and working people of Cartago use this public space, is actually the best part. Worth a slight detour, if driving into San Jose.
Written April 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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