Visit Colombia: La Catedral De Sal

There's something about caves and man-made underground spaces that humans find irresistible. Horror movies have been made about every type of subterranean space imaginable, from catacombs to underground mines and cave systems. Thousands of tourists flock to them every year, and close their eyes and imagine trying to find their way out if all of the lights were to fail. Spelunkers exploring less popular cave systems routinely turn their lights off for a moment to experience the deepest dark possible, an absolute blackness both in light and sound.

The massive Cathedral of Salt (Catedral de Sal ), created out of an old salt mine, is definitely one of the most intriguing places to visit during your trip to Colombia. It is located just a few hours from Bogota, in the side of a mountain just outside the town of Zipaquira.

The original chapel was built by the miners in a disused arm of the mine. It was declared unsafe in 1990, and the current cathedral was excavated some 200 feet below the old mine. It consists of 14 chapels and a main, larger temple. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Cathedral_of_Zipaquirá)
The larger room, with its startlingly high ceiling, could more than contain the chapel of Notre Dame. (http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Most-Amazing-Caves-53538.shtml)

The air is quiet and cool, and the lighting is wonderful. Several Colombian artists participated in the lighting design for the chapel project, resulting in an eerily beautiful, contemplative space.

According to the Catedral de Sal website:

El descenso hacia la Catedral es lento, durante su transcurrir se diluye la noción del tiempo, de la luz, del calor, del sonido, del color, del viento y el movimiento ... es el camino a una nueva visión interior, un mundo subterráneo inmutable, de siglos, misterioso, que invita a la meditación, a la reflexión , a la oración, a una autentica experiencia cultural.

"The descent to the Cathedral is slow, and during this period the notion of time is diluted, from the light, from heat, from sound, from color, from wind and movement... it is the road to a new interior vision, a changeless subterranean world of centuries, mysterious, that invites meditation, reflection, to prayer, to an authentic cultural experience."
(http://www.catedraldesal.gov.co/)

One can get to the Cathedral by bus, taxi, or by signing up for a tour.
The entrance fee for adults is 12,000 Colombian pesos (about $12 american).
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 am to 4:30pm.
Weekends and Holidays: 9 am to 5 pm.
Pets and tripods are not allowed.