CATEDRAL DE SAL DE ZIPAQUIRÁ

The Salt Park is a must-see in the surroundings of Bogotá. There you can discover the world of the miners through different activities. The first one is the visit of the underground cathedral, a great classic for foreign and Colombian tourists, as well as for pilgrims. In 2007, the cathedral was considered after a popular vote as the "First Wonder of Colombia", among other sites of major importance in the country. The salt cathedral that we visit today is a replica of the original cathedral built in 1954, an underground work of more than 6,000 square meters carved in the salt rock, made of labyrinths, colossal naves and obscure chapels, and dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, patron saint of miners. For safety reasons, this church, which was in danger of collapsing, was closed in 1990 and a replica built. Inaugurated in 1995, the new cathedral is located on the third level of the mine, 180 meters underground, 60 meters deeper than the original cathedral. The artistic and architectural design of the new Cathedral is the work of Colombian architect Roswell Garavito Pearl. The guided tour itself takes place every 45 minutes (every 15 minutes on weekends), and lasts 1 hour, usually in Spanish. It is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The tour begins with a descent through a tunnel to the Way of the Cross, along which are the twelve stations of the "Way of Calvary", which consist of small altars carved in salt. The dome is reached by the main ramp going down. A huge cross of 16 meters can be seen. At the back of the nave is La Creación del Hombre, by Carlos Enrique Rodríguez Arango, a marble sculpture that pays homage to Michelangelo. The cathedral houses a rich collection of salt and marble statues, and the atmosphere is particularly religious, as it is primarily a place of worship. Masses are held on Sundays and classical music concerts are sometimes held here. Bring warm clothes and comfortable shoes for walking. During the visit, a 3D film of about fifteen minutes allows to know a little more about the history of the mine and the cathedral. This visit always impresses the visitors, but for some it seems a little too commercial, who prefer the mine of Nemocón, more authentic and less frequented.