Keeping faith: shrines you can visit

Arizona’s roadside shrines are considered religious sites, not tourist attractions; visit with respect. They’re best seen in daylight hours. Leave money in the donation box if you light a candle or would like to help with maintenance.

Ruben Licano’s roadside shrine is about 2 miles west of Miami, Arizona, on the south side of U.S. 60. Telles family roadside shrine is about 3 miles south of Patagonia, on the east-southeast side of State 82.

El Tiradito shrine is on Main Ave. near Cushing St. in downtown Tucson’s Barrio Historico.

Carmen’s yard shrines. Examples can be seen along E. Frontage Rd. in the village of Carmen, about 1 mile south of Tubac off I-19, south of Tucson.

For more information

A good book on the subject is Beliefs and Holy Places: A Spiritual Geography of Pimería Alta, by James S. Griffith (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1993; $19; 800/426-3797).