Pearls of Life: Bogota, Spirituality and the Roman Catholic Salt Church.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira near Bogota, Colombia.
Bogota's spiritual life is very diverse. Exploring spirituality is like a Mecca to go to in Bogota. The variety of the options and the mix of the cultures in one city is the unique advantage of this amazing city.
Meditating every day, usually in the morning but some in the mid day, is a norm in Bogota hotels. Additionally, in the area of the La Candeleria, there are spiritual cafe bars of the indigenous and the old tribe. There, you can join a ceremony with music and food or just drink coca tea leaves and participate in a small concert with local musicians from the community.
Participating in a ceremony in Bogota can often be the center of the conversation when meeting with other tourists or local shamans. Yes, there are spiritual Shamans in Bogota who specialize in spiritual ceremonies. The ceremonies are done in a private group and much preparation is needed. The aim is to be connected to Mother Earth and to the Spiritual world of air and earth, as the Shamans teach from generation to generation.
The other side of spirituality is the Church. The Catholic Roman Churches are spread all over Colombia and Bogota is no different. The city has a site for beautiful and ancient churches.
I have found that the Colombians are very spiritual people and dedication to the church is seen often. Exploring the churches in Bogota is like going back in history. The old buildings and the architecture are evidence of the central place the church has in Colombian life.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira near Bogota, Colombia.
Sculpture in the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira near Bogota, Colombia.
The most famous church for its unique character near Bogota is the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá ,Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá is an underground Roman Catholic church built within the tunnels of a salt mine underground in a mountain near the city of Zipaquirá, in Cundinamarca, Colombia.
The cathedral is one of the extraordinary achievements of Colombian architecture, being described as a "Jewel of Modern Architecture".
The cathedral represents significant religious patrimony for the Colombian people.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira near Bogota, Colombia.
Near the cathedral there is a salt park and jewelry exhibition unique to the place.
Going back to Bogota takes 3-4 hours depending on the traffic. The tour is amazing and can be done individually. The views are spiritually magnificent as you can get a glimpse of an old little Colombian town as in comparison to the big town Bogota . More about environmental friendly mining and sustainable development near Bogota contact us, here.
Town center of Zipaquira near Bogota, Colombia.
