Salt flats are scattered all around Latin America, but did you know that Colombia is home to its own church made of salt? The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is located close to Bogota, over 600 feet underground within the tunnels of a salt mine.
This unusual church was initially carved inside an active mine, and it took decades until it officially opened its doors to the public due to structural problems and safety concerns. A smaller underground church was once located on its premises, as a place where miners could ask the saints for protection before a long and dangerous day of work.
The Salt Cathedral is no longer considered just a place of pilgrimage, but a major tourist destination that welcomed millions of visitors over the years. It’s also considered a marvel of Colombian architecture, with many icons, ornaments, and architectural details hand-carved in the halite rock, scattered across 14 small chapels connected by tunnels.
If you’re in the mood to explore the bowels of the earth while the faint smell of sulfur fills the air during your visit to Colombia, the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is the place to be. It’s buried deep in the hill of Zipa, about an hour from Bogota, and you can visit it every day from 9:00 am to 5:40 pm, according to its official website.