The 2012 death of María Lionza statue and sanctuary disputes

Record summary

The large María Lionza monument created by Alejandro Colina and installed near Caracas has generated disputes over ownership, preservation, relocation, and its relationship to the Sorte pilgrimage tradition. Damage, conservation efforts, and competing claims about where the authentic sacred image belongs became especially visible during the 2010s. This is a concrete artefact lead for comparing state heritage management with living devotional practice, rather than an encounter report. Researchers should track the monument separately from the mountain sanctuary and distinguish Colina’s artistic construction, devotees’ ritual meanings, and official cultural-policy narratives.