Where We Be
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| Deep within the salt mine of Zipaquira is the largest cross inside a cave in the world |
| Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, Colombia |
For our last day in Bogota we went on a half-day
tour of the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, about an
hour north of the city. We booked our driver
through our hotel at a cost of 200,000 pesos
(~$60) as the bus option to get there seemed a
bit complicated. The entry tickets cost another
60,000 pesos (~$18) each including audio guide.
The descent into the mine is gradual. Before
long you come to the first of 14 stations of the
cross. Each station has a cross symbolic of
Jesus, with subtle differences in the way the
cross is depicted. The audio guide helps
explain the significance of each station.
At the far end of the walk, at a depth of 650 feet
(200 m), is a magnificent carved-out cathedral
with an enormous cross. The lighting is striking
and your first glimpse of the cross can be
powerful. From a balcony you get a terrific view
of the Salt Cathedral in its entirety. The white
cross seems to hang in the blue-lit cavern as if
by magic. Chiseled into the wall, it's given a
sense of depth by the clever lighting. It's quite
stunning! Colombians have voted it the "First
Wonder of Colombia."
tour of the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, about an
hour north of the city. We booked our driver
through our hotel at a cost of 200,000 pesos
(~$60) as the bus option to get there seemed a
bit complicated. The entry tickets cost another
60,000 pesos (~$18) each including audio guide.
The descent into the mine is gradual. Before
long you come to the first of 14 stations of the
cross. Each station has a cross symbolic of
Jesus, with subtle differences in the way the
cross is depicted. The audio guide helps
explain the significance of each station.
At the far end of the walk, at a depth of 650 feet
(200 m), is a magnificent carved-out cathedral
with an enormous cross. The lighting is striking
and your first glimpse of the cross can be
powerful. From a balcony you get a terrific view
of the Salt Cathedral in its entirety. The white
cross seems to hang in the blue-lit cavern as if
by magic. Chiseled into the wall, it's given a
sense of depth by the clever lighting. It's quite
stunning! Colombians have voted it the "First
Wonder of Colombia."
| Robin listens to the audio guide at the entry to the salt mine |
| This is one of the early stations of the cross. You'll get the most out of the experience if you slow down and listen to the audio guide so you understand the significance of each station. |
| Your first glimpse of the Salt Cathedral from the balcony can be especially powerful |
| You can also walk right up to the cross -- it loses none of its magic from a close inspection |
| You'll also see this sculpture of God’s and Adam’s hands touching |
| Salt cannot be carved intricately, so the stations of the cross are simple, with a basic cross representing Jesus in each case. But this lovely statue of the pieta is not carved of salt so can be much more intricate. |
| A little blurry, but this photo gives an idea of how wide the main corridor is. There are some fun (optional) narrow corridors deeper within the mine. |
| Near the exit is a presentation of the "Barca Muisca" from the legend of El Dorado |
| Even deep underground you can't escape gift shops |
| Ah, sunshine and fresh air! After two hours in the mine it felt good to be topside. |
| The entry point to the mine is at the top of a hill so you get a great view of the town of Zipaquira from here |
| Our driver pulled over near the town's main square so I could snap a photo of Zipaquira's lovely church |
| This pretty building also sits on the main square |
| A carving at the entry point celebrates the miners who created the salt cathedral |
| And this sculpture of a pre-Colombian worshipper |