Check Out The Salt Cathedral Of Zipaquira

If you are trying to decide on where to go this year for an international vacation, think about going to Columbia. Columbia is a great destination in South America that is home to many wonderful attractions for tourists to enjoy. One of the best places to go, if you are in Columbia, is the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira. It is located in the town of Cundinamarca, and is considered one of the most beautiful churches in the country. It is important to remember, if you are going to be traveling overseas to Columbia, that you will need a valid United States passport. If you need to add extra passport pages, go online and get help from an internet passport agency.

Passports

Internet passport agencies are making it easier than ever for American citizens to take care of their passport issues. You can take care of services such as getting extra American passport pages in as little as a few days with the help of online passport agencies. You must remember, if you are going to be traveling overseas to South America, that you will need to possess a valid Untied States passport. Without a passport to show to customs officials at the airport, you will not be allowed to leave the country.

History

The cathedral features a temple at the bottom that is comprised of three sections. The first represents the birth of Jesus. The second represents his life, and the third represents his death. There are numerous icons and ornaments that were ornately carved into the halite rock. There are also amazing architectural details and many marble sculptures. The salt mine is part of a Halite mountain that is near the town of Zipiquira. Interestingly, although the establishment garners 3,000 parishioners on Sunday, there is no bishop and according to official status it is not actually a Cathedral.

History

Before the underground church was constructed in 1932 there was already a sanctuary. Miners had carved it in order to practice their daily prayers and ask the saints of protection to watch over them while they worked. In 1950 the bigger construction began. In 1954 the church was dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary, Patron saint of miners. There were three naves which included a monumental cross, Stations of the Cross, along with icons of the Virgin of Rosary icon as well as the nave that featured the birth of Jesus as well as his baptism. There was also a waterfall that represented the Jordan River. Unfortunately due to the structural issues that coincide with work in an active mine it had to be shut down in 1990.

Other Facts

This cathedral is considered one of the most infamous achievements in the realms of Colombian architecture. It was also nominated as a “Jewel of Modern Architecture.”The cathedral is comprised of the Stations of the Cross at the entrance along with 14 small chapels. There is The Dome located at the end of the descending entrance ramp; this also features a Narthex labyrinth. There are also three naves that are connected by a large crack that is supposed to symbolize the birth and death of Jesus.

If you are going to be in Columbia, you should head to the small town of Cundinamarca at some point during your vacation to see the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira. It is one of the most beautiful churches in the country and is a must see for any fan of architecture. If you are going to be traveling to South America, it is important to remember that you will need to have a valid United States passport with you. Without a passport, you will not be able to leave the country. If you need to take care of any passport issues, such as getting extra passport pages, you can go online and get help from an internet passport agency.