Things to do in Andalucia

Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral

Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church carved deep within the tunnels of a salt mine, approx. 200m underground, and is a well-known pilgrimage and tourist destination in Colombia. This salt mine was worked by the Muisca people long before the arrival of the Spanish. Starting in the 1930s, miners carved prayer spaces into the tunnels. The first underground church was completed in 1954 but was later closed due to safety issues in the mine tunnels. The current church was built in 1995 in a deeper part of the mine and remains an active church where masses and other religious activities are held. The visit begins with a slow descent down the entrance corridor, where 14 Stations of the Cross are lined up on both sides. Each station features a cross and kneeling bench carved from salt rock, corresponding to scenes from the Passion of Jesus. At the end of the corridor are 3 naves symbolizing the birth, life, and death of Jesus, connected by a fissure. The icons, ornaments, and architectural details inside the naves were all hand-carved by artisans from rock salt, supplemented by some marble sculptures. You can also see a sculpture based on Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam," and 4 giant columns representing the 4 Evangelists. Lighting illuminates the crosses and carvings from below, making the texture of the salt rock shimmer in the light.

Parque Principal Pacho

Villaveces Park

Villaveces Park is located right next to the walking path leading to the Salt Cathedral complex, and tourists walking up from the old town usually pass through here. The park is named after Ignacio Villaveces, an engineer who managed the local salt mine in the 1940s—he served as the salt mine administrator between 1942 and 1945, and the town named the park after him to commemorate this local builder. The park is small but encapsulates several pieces of Zipaquira's history: the vintage pickup truck "Julia," which accompanied local cyclist "El Zipa" Forero to win the first Vuelta a Colombia in 1951, is now kept in the park as a memorial. On one side of the park, the Zipaquira Archaeological Museum displays artifacts from the Muisca and other pre-Columbian periods, with a collection of over 1,000 items covering 14 pre-Hispanic cultures. The surrounding buildings still retain their colonial-era outlines. Most tourists treat this as a stop along their Salt Cathedral itinerary: resting on benches under the shade of trees, while vendors selling small salt carvings and handmade candies are often found at the edge of the park.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Colombia

Monserrate

The Montserrat mountain is located in Bogota, Colombia, where the landscape is beautiful. You can take the cable car to go up the mountain and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery along the way. From the top of the mountain, you can contemplate the entire view of Bogota. There is a white church built in 1650 on the mountain, and some places to have coffee, making it a great spot for morning exercise and relaxation. At night, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city from the mountain top, or dine at the summit restaurant and admire the view while eating. You can take the cable car to go up the mountain, which operates every 15 minutes.

Club Tierra Linda

Villagómez Central Park

Tupac Amaru Club

Embalse del Neusa

Monumento a la naranja

Cogua Main Park