The Santa Lucia Church is one of the most beautiful churches in the province of Ilocos Sur. It is the only church in Ilocos Sur with a dome. Its belfry is four stories high. Along with the more popular St. Catherine Church that houses the statue of the Blessed Virgin (Our Lady of Namacpacan) in the nearby town of Luna in La Union, this church is also being visited by pilgrims all year round but to a lesser degree.

The Santa Lucia church is known for the statue of Saint Lucy which they called here as the Dark Virgin of Santa Lucia. The Dark Virgin of Santa Lucia is believed to be miraculous especially for those people with failing eyesight. The church which is called Saint Lucy The Martyr Church was established in 1586 and the image of the St. Lucy was introduced to the church in the second half of the 18th century. The church is located in front of the town’s plaza along the National Highway across the Santa Lucia Municipal Hall.

Photo by April Bravo/PIA Ilocos Sur