What is special about the Salt Cathedral of zipaquirá?

The cathedral is considered one of the most notable achievements of Colombian architecture, being described as a “Jewel of Modern Architecture”. The cathedral represents a valuable cultural, environmental and religious patrimony for the Colombian people.

What architectural feature is found in Zipaquira?

The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is an underground church built inside a salt mine, and made entirely of salt.

What famous monument is located at Zipaquira in Colombia?

Hollowed out of the middle of this mountain and 600 feet below our feet lay our destination: the magnificent Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, one of the most popular tourist and pilgrimage sites in Colombia, where as many as 3,000 Catholic faithful gather each Sunday for religious services in a former salt mine.

Why is zipaquira important?

Decades later, writer and Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez started his life as a writer when he lived in Zipaquirá. The city preserves many of the buildings from colonial times and the main plaza (the great plaza or plaza of the people) is protected by the Town Hall.

How many chapels does the Salt Cathedral have?

14 chapels
Some beautiful and impressive marble sculptures are also visible. Because it is built in a salt mine, the Salt Cathedral has some peculiar features. It is comprised of 14 chapels, connected by tunnels. Each chapel represents one of the stations of the cross, on Jesus’ way to his crucifixion.

Why was the Salt Cathedral built?

Originally, miners had carved a sanctuary, for their daily prayers for protection before starting to work. By the early 1950s, the original Salt Cathedral was constructed dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary, Patron Saint of miners, consisting of three naves and a cross.

How much does it cost to go to Catedral de Sal?

The Catedral de Sal (tel. 1/852-3010, 9am-5:30pm daily, COP$20,000) is part of the Parque del Sal. The original cathedral was built by miners in 1951, but due to safety concerns at that site, a new and larger cathedral was built and opened in 1995. The cathedral is indeed an impressive feat of engineering.

Is the Salt Cathedral worth it?

This salt cathedral is a massive system of underground walkways featuring the stations of the cross, a chapel and many statues all lit very well. I was very impressed with it as I was really just expecting a one room chapel. It costs $50 000 COP for adults and $34 000 COP for minors.

How do you get to the Salt Cathedral from Bogota?

To get to Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral from Bogotá, you can take a bus on the North station of Transmilenio to the municipality of Zipaquirá , the ticket costs 5,400 COP and the journey takes approximately 50 minutes, depending on traffic. You can also take a bus from the Transportation Terminal from Bogotá to Zipaquirá .

How do you get to Zipaquira Salt Cathedral?

What is the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá?

Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá (Spanish: Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá) is an underground Roman Catholic church built within the tunnels of a salt mine 200 metres (220 yd) underground in a halite mountain near the city of Zipaquirá, in Cundinamarca, Colombia.

Where are the salt deposits in Zipaquirá located?

Salt deposits in Zipaquirá were formed around 250 million years ago, and were raised above sea level during the late Tertiary period, when the Andes were formed. The complex is located in Zipaquirá, in Cundinamarca Department, 49 kilometres (30 mi) north of Bogota, at 2,652 metres (8,701 ft) altitude.

What to do in Zipaquirá?

The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is a unique attraction. The town of Zipaquirá is also a nice chance to see a smaller town atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of Bogotá. For an even more rustic experience, take the old train line to the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral like we did.

How to get to the Salt Cathedral in Bogotá?

In fact, if you’re on a tighter schedule, it may be best to find other ways to get to the salt cathedral. The train will take you all day, but it is possible to do it in half a day and still have the rest of the day to do other things in Bogotá proper. If you decide you don’t want to do the train, see below for other ways to get to Zipaquirá.