Mariana Wedding Chapel

"La Mariana" is a truly unique chapel in Costa Rica, the only one in America whose ceiling are covered with hand painted tiles representing the devotion to the Virgin Mary in all Latin-American countries. The Chapel is located on a grass-covered hilltop overlooking Villablanca and is complemented by pristine Cloud Forest as its natural backdrop.

The chapel's ceiling is covered with 840 ceramic plates, all of them hand drawn and painted with high temperature enamel paints. Each side of the ceiling has 15 panels of 28 plates divided in two vertical rows of 14 plates. Each one of the columns formed by the 14 plates develops a theme allusive to a Latin-American virgin and her country. Bring plenty of film and take time to observe the details and absorb the peaceful atmosphere.

The first four rows, two to the left and two to the right, express the celebration of San Ramón's festivities. Here we can observe the representation of the neighboring saint's procession, which come to pay their respect and honor to their Patron Saint, San Ramón, on the 30 Th. of August each year.

The Virgins that were chosen to honor in the chapel are:

	Our Lady of the Rescue of Ujarrás Costa Rica
	Our Lady of Los Angeles Costa Rica
	The Virgin of Guadalupe Mexico
	Our Lady of Suyapa Honduras
	La Concha, Immaculate Conception Nicaragua
	Our Lady of the Caridad del Cobre Cuba
	Our Lady of Providence Puerto Rico
	Our Lady of Altagracia Dominican Republic
	Our Lady do Aparecida Brazil
	Our Lady of Chinquinquirá Colombia
	Our Lady of Coromoto Venezuela
	Our Lady of the Thirty Three Uruguay
	Our Lady of Luján Argentina
	Our Lady of Peace Costa Rica

Guarding the chapel's entrance you will find San Martín de Porres, greeting all those who visit. San Martín is a Latin-American saint from Lima, Perú who represents a racial cohesion in the American continent.

Overlooking the back window, a beautiful verse of the "Misa Tica", can be observed, a mass composed according to Costa Rican traditions by Aurelia Trejos and Dionisio Cabal of "Cantares" (a national group) and Father Rafael Mora Fonseca.

One of the sides of the altar shows the National Anthem of Costa Rica. Like in every Costa Rican church, the chapel displays the national flag and coat of arms, symbols of respect for the country, along with a representation of a manuscript written by the anthem's author, José María Zeledón´s, in his handwriting, who was also Estrella Zeledón de Carazo´s grandfather.

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