Our Lady of Chiquinquirá Cathedral, Sonsón

Our Lady of Chiquinquirá Cathedral is a modern structure built from reinforced concrete and brick in an international style, constructed between 1965 and 1996. Inside, marble altars and Spanish stained glass windows fill the sacred space with colored light and religious imagery.

A devastating earthquake in 1962 destroyed the original Romanesque-Gothic granite cathedral, prompting its replacement. The current building arose in the second half of the 20th century as a modern substitute for the damaged historic structure.

The Spanish stained glass windows above the altar create a focused space where visitors and worshippers gather for daily services and celebrations. These decorative elements reflect the religious identity of the local community and shape how people experience the interior.

The building sits on the western edge of Plaza Principal Ruiz y Zapata and accommodates roughly 1000 people for services. This central location makes it easy to reach whether you are walking around the main plaza or exploring the town.

The demolition of the previous building was a landmark moment: it was the first controlled implosion of a cathedral in Colombian construction history. This technique allowed workers to clear the old site and make space for the modern new structure.