Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, Cave church in salt mine, Zipaquirá, Colombia.
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is a Roman Catholic church carved inside the tunnels of a halite mine about 200 metres underground in the salt mountain near Zipaquirá, Cundinamarca. Its layout follows the Stations of the Cross: 14 small chapels with crosses and kneeling platforms cut into the salt lead to the Dome, then down to the three naves, joined by a crack and framed by four cylindrical columns standing for the Evangelists. Icons and ornaments are hand-carved in halite, with some marble sculptures.
People began extracting salt from these mountains in the 5th century BC, long before Spaniards reached the region. Miners built the first chapel in the 1950s, but the current facility opened in 1995 following new designs deeper inside the mountain.
The church is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, patron saint of miners, and miners carved a sanctuary here for daily prayers before descending to work. The icons, ornaments and architectural details are hand-carved in the halite rock, while some sculptures are of marble. The Stations of the Cross line the entrance as 14 small chapels, each with a cross and kneeling platforms cut into the salt.
Warm clothing is advisable, as the temperature inside remains steady at around 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit). The route includes stairs and ramps, so visitors should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for slopes.
A large cross on the wall glows from within, as engineers embedded lights into the salt structure. Some visitors notice a faint salty taste in the air when breathing.
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