TOP FIVE: ARCHITECTURE OF

COLOMBIA SALT CATHEDRAL OF ZIPAQUIRÁ

THE SANCTUARY OF THE LAJAS  IN IPIALES

CHICAMOCHA NATIONAL PARK

THE PARK TOWERS ROGELIO SALMONA

QUINTA DE SAN PEDRO ALEJANDRINO

SALT CATHEDRAL OF ZIPAQUIRÁ

The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is an underground Roman catholic church built within the tunnels of a salt mine 200 meters underground in a Halite mountain near the town of Zipaquirá, in Cundinamarca, Colombia. It is a very popular tourist destination and place of pilgrimage in the country. The name "Salt Cathedral" is mostly to attract tourists - while a functioning church that receives as many as 3,000 visitors on Sundays, it has no bishop and therefore no official status as a cathedral in Catholicism.

The temple at the bottom has three sections, representing the birth, life, and death of Jesus. The icons, ornaments and architectural details are hand carved in the halite rock. Some marble sculptures are included.

SALT CATHEDRAL OF ZIPAQUIRÁ

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SALT CATHEDRAL OF ZIPAQUIRÁ

The Salt Cathedral is considered one of the most notable achievements of Colombian architecture. Also it has been denominated as "Jewel of Modern Architecture". The cathedral represents for the Colombian people a valuable cultural, environmental and religious patrimony

THE SANCTUARY OF THE LAJAS  IN IPIALES

Located 7km from Ipiales, on a bridge which spans a spectacular gorge of the Guáitara River, is this gothic church, the church has been constructed in such a way that the rock (and image virgin) is its high altar.

THE SANCTUARY OF THE LAJAS  IN IPIALES

The church was built to commemorate the appearance of the Virgin which legend has it, her image appeared on an enormous vertical rock 45m above the river. As you walk down the hill you will notice the multitude of plaques along the cliff wall placed by pilgrims from Colombia and abroad as thanks for the miracles that have occurred and are accredited to the working of the Virgin

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CHICAMOCHA NATIONAL PARK

Chicamocha National Park also known as Panachi is a Colombian Natural park along the Chicamocha Canyon (Cañón del Chicamocha) located 50 km from the city of Bucaramanga, Santander. The site is a tourist attraction due to is spectacular landscape and the variety of outdoor activities that it offers such as paragliding, spelunking, bushwalking, camping, fishing, kayaking, rafting, mountain climbing, etc. Cultural activities include the Museo Guane, Plaza de los Costumbres and the Salón de Exposiciones.

The park is served by a 6.3 km length Cable car system. It is one of the longest systems of its type in the world. The system goes across the canyon from the station "Mesa de los Santos" to Panachi. It has three stations: The first one is located inside the park, the middle one next to the river and the last one in the "Vereda el Tabacal".

CHICAMOCHA NATIONAL PARK

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THE PARK TOWERS ROGELIO SALMONA

THE PARK TOWERS ROGELIO SALMONA

The renowned architect and artist Rogelio Salmona designed these buildings in the early 70s. He was able to harmonize the buildings with their physical and social environment. This is the reason why these buildings are considered as one of the most emblematic constructions of the city..

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QUINTA DE SAN PEDRO ALEJANDRINO

La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino is a hacienda or Quinta built in the 17th century, famous for being the death place of Simón Bolívar on December 17, 1830. At that time, the estate produced rum, honey and panela. The hacienda is located in the Mamatoco within the tourist district of Santa Marta, near the Caribbean sea in northern Colombia. Nowadays it functions as a tourist site, museum and historical landmark.

QUINTA DE SAN PEDRO ALEJANDRINO