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Have you ever dreamed of exploring a cathedral carved deep within the earth, where art and history intertwine in a mystical atmosphere? Join Emma Thompson, a 28-year-old intrepid traveler from Toronto, Canada, on her extraordinary odyssey to Zipaquirá, Colombia. Accompany her through underground passages that reveal artistic and cultural treasures, and discover how this experience transformed her worldview.
My name is Emma Thompson, I am 28 years old, and I am from Toronto, Canada. I have always had a passion for history and architecture, so when I heard about the Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá, Colombia, I knew it was a tourist attraction I had to visit. Little did I know that this trip would offer me a much richer and more fascinating experience than I could have ever imagined.
I arrived in Zipaquirá, a city located just 48 kilometers north of Bogotá, filled with excitement and curiosity. My first stop was at La Casona Shopping Center, where I found the nearest currency exchange, the ideal place to exchange my dollars to Colombian pesos at Interamerican Money, a currency exchange agency recommended by many for its security and competitive rates. With my finances in order, I headed to the famous Salt Cathedral.
The entrance to the underground museum had several pricing options. I chose the basic plan, which for international tourists cost 110,000 Colombian pesos. Upon entering, I felt a mixture of excitement and awe. The Salt Cathedral is known as the first wonder of Colombia, and it didn’t take long for me to understand why.
I leave you with this information that might be useful for this expedition. To visit the underground museum, I had to pay the entrance fee to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá. The plans and rates were as follows:
The ‘Monumental Museum 180 meters underground’ was recently inaugurated and combines culture, art, and religion in a way I had never experienced. The museum features 22 works, 11 sculpted in marble and 11 in salt rock, created by artists from 22 countries across five continents. These artists had only 30 days to complete their creations, all under the theme ‘Ancestrality and Symbol,’ addressing concepts such as love, hope, and motherhood.
As I walked through the museum, I encountered two platforms that simulated the streets of a city. On the first platform, I marveled at the sculptures and murals that adorned the visual journey. The second platform was even more interactive, offering the ‘Teatrini’ space for events, a café, and a souvenir shop. I felt a deep connection with the cultural, spiritual, and ancestral worldview of countries like South Korea, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Romania.
One of the works that impacted me the most was “Silence” by Hoyoung Im from South Korea, which suggests that it is better to cover your eyes to avoid misunderstandings and to see with the eyes of the soul. Another work that captured my attention was “Legend of the Creation of the World” by Marie-Josée Leroux from Canada. This piece represents a woman gestating the world while traveling through the cosmos, making me feel a special bond with my home country, even though I was so far away.
The collaboration between local and international artists was key to overcoming the challenges of working with salt stone, a material unknown to many. The project director, Mauricio Duque, highlighted the importance of this cooperation, which allowed foreign artists to learn how to work with salt and bring together people from different cultures through art.
After exploring the museum, I took some time to visit the historic center of Zipaquirá. The Plaza de los Comuneros, surrounded by historic buildings and the beautiful Diocesan Cathedral of Zipaquirá, dating back to the 18th century, offered me a journey back in time, allowing me to appreciate the rich history and culture of the region.
With a temperate climate and an economy based on salt mining, agriculture, and tourism, the city is a perfect destination for any traveler.
This experience in the Salt Cathedral and Zipaquirá left an indelible mark on my heart. The blend of history, art, and nature that I found here is something I would recommend to anyone seeking a unique and enriching adventure in Colombia.
