When leaving the saddlery, we continue to the right along Urquiza street for two and a half blocks, where we will find on the right hand side a small place called El Oratorio San Felipe Neri. It is one one of the most complete shops visited by all those interested in Santeria. Salta is a destination where the population is mostly Catholic and very believers in the different saints.
The Santeria San Felipe Neri is a spiritual oasis for many inhabitants and they find in this place a refuge in faith. The trade is full of objects, you can visit it and surely many pieces will amaze you. In these times, one of the best-selling saints according to the owner of the premises is the San Pantaleón , he is considered the patron of the doctors and the sick and the San José Obrero, employer of the workers.
Other popular statuettes are those of Gauchito Gil and Difunta Correa. Al Gauchito Gil every January 8 in every corner of the country a red candle is lit to venerate this vigilant and compliant gaucho who is present on all roads and routes in the country. He is considered a protector "miraculous "capable of deflecting" enemy bullets "and saving lives.
For her part, Difunta Correa is a popular saint from northern Argentina , especially among the popular classes. The woman was the wife of Clemente Bustos, a local from Angaco who was forcibly recruited by Montonero groups to participate in civil wars, and taken to La Rioja, and she tried to go after him with her newborn baby. On a walking trip through the desert, she died of exhaustion, without food or water, and was found the next day by some muleteers, who verified that the child was still alive, nursing from his mother's dead body, which gave rise to the legend. and to the subsequent devotion of faith. The devotees of La Difunta Correa look to her for help and benefits for relatives or close people with illnesses, but above all they ask for the health of children.
In addition to sell all kinds of statuettes, stamps and t-shirts of saints, also the classic candles, chains with crosses or saints, bibles, tarot cards, cribs coyas, pictures of saints are offered and virgins. There is a section of literature and magazines, where you can find bibles, magazines on the way of the cross and on how to interpret the rosary. In this place you will also be able to understand a little more about what religion mobilizes the people of the north of the country