Sacred Salt - One of the weirdest cathedrals on earth
Considered to be one of the wonders of Colombia, the underground Salt Cathedral at Zipaquira is a weird and wonderful Roman Catholic church built inside the tunnels of an old salt mine 200 metres beneath the surface of the earth.
This amazing construction, which was completed in 1995, is a fully consecrated church (though not technically a cathedral as there is no bishop) with weddings and Sunday mass being regularly performed. Whether a believer or not, this ‘cave-cathedral’ is a bizarre and fascinating place to visit.
You enter by walking down the old entrance to the mine and first pass through a series of 14 small chapels, representing the Stations of the Cross. Then comes the magnificent dome, which heralds your arrival at the main church – which comprises three parallel naves.
Apart from a few marble sculptures, all of the ornaments, architectural details and crosses have been hand carved from the halite (Salt rock). The interior is beautifully illuminated with lighting that changes colour, creating dramatic and ethereal effects, which add to the awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Back outside there is a Salt Park with a brine museum, and a museum of mining, mineralogy, geology and natural resources.
The Salt Cathedral is about one and a half hours’ drive from Bogota. We can arrange a half-day private tour – or it can be included in an itinerary for guests returning to Bogota from a trip to Boyaca. We would also encourage a stop-off at the famous ‘Andres Carne de Res’ restaurant in the evening on the way back.