Cathedral of Sal: an underground and mystical universe 42 kilometers from Bogotá

This underground wonder, located in the municipality of Zipaquirá, is one of the most visited places by travelers who arrive in the capital. A religious and architectural wonder. .

Only 42 kilometers from Bogotá you can discover a underground wonder: the salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá: product of a result of salt deposits at a depth of 180 meters underground, in the mountains of the salt capital in Colombia, which date from more than 200 million years.

In this universe you can discover 8,500 square metres of a rich artistic collection, where the delicacy of art and the ruity of mining work result in a series of sculptures carved on salt and marble in an architectural, cultural and natural environment.

The Cathedral of Sal has brought religious architecture to unsuspected limits. This is a sophisticated construction, by the Togotan architect Roswell Garavito Pearl, which was raised on saline rock at 2,674 meters above sea level in the 1990s. In the works 127 miners and 110 casters were needed, and more than 250,000 tons of this ore.

The Cathedral of Sal was elected, in 2007, as the First Wonder of Colombia. Photo: Courtesy, Cathedral of Sal

Everything you can know

The cathedral offers a guided tour, or route of the miner, which is divided into three basic sections: the Viacruces, which consists of small altars carved in salt rock that evoke the Way to the Golgotha of Jesus Christ with his Cross; the second is made up of the dome, where the Greater Cross can be observed, 145 meters away: it is 16 meters high and is carved in low relief. It is the largest underground cross in the world, located in the central ship. From there you can descend to the balconies over the cameras, the choir and the stairs of a maze. And the final section leads to the center of the cathedral, made up of three ships inspired by birth, life and resurrection: three central aspects of Christianity.

One of its most visited sites is The Creation of Man: a tribute to Michelangelo. It should be noted that in 2007, through a contest to choose the 7 Wonders of Colombia, the Cathedral of Sal obtained the largest vote, making it the First Wonders of Colombia.

Yenny Páez, manager of the Cathedral of Sal de Zipaquirá, explains that this place has been diversifying its tourist attractions in recent years. "Lnew experiences are perceived as an escape in the underground of the planet, where there are activities such as the mapping show: a unique and imposing format that combines art, technology and innovation, impacting on the beautiful and majestic rock architecture of the Cathedral of Sal, "Páez said.

This architectural and religious jewel has hundreds of images, many of them made of marble and salt. Photo: Courtesy, Cathedral of Sal

The Museum 180, opened in 2024, with works carved in marble and salt, made by 22 artists of 19 nationalities who had gathered, in 2023, at the International Symposium on Monumental Sculpture. The salt walls, with a total of 12 tons, represent a monumental achievement in the conservation of cultural heritage.

It also highlights a 3D film that everyone can appreciate: a lively short in which the interesting history of the formation of the saline dome and the methods of exploitation that led to the construction of this space of the human hand is discovered. Another new experience is a guided bike tour. There is also a spa that offers salt-based treatments, cafes and souvenir shops, as well as all the gastronomic and cultural offer of Zipaquirá.

The good news

The 2024 was a special year for the Cathedral of Sal, because it managed to break the record of national and international visitors with 705,045 people. In the same year, the Cathedral was recognized as a cultural, natural and historical heritage by the Andean Parliament, in the midst of a ceremony with the presence of dignitaries from the countries of the region.

Holy Week

The Cathedral of Sal is more than ready for travelers to visit during Holy Week, a celebration in which you can also attend the Eucharist during holy days.

The Cathedral of Sal always has a special schedule for Holy Week. Photo: Courtesy, Cathedral of Sal

For more information, see: www.cathedraldesale.gov.co / . And if you want to know about plans and tourist attractions, consult www.visitbogota.co Or download the free Visit Bogotá app on your cell phone.