Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira in Colombia

The cathedral near the Colombian city of Zipaquira is the most famous of the Catholic shrines in Colombia. Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá (Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá) is built in salt mines at a depth of almost two hundred meters. Its walls, carved into halite rock, are three-quarters of salt, which was mined here long before the arrival of Europeans on the continent - from about the fifth century AD.
With the advent of the Spaniards, salt mining in these places became more intensive, and the mines underground became longer and deeper. By the beginning of the last century, passages, grottoes and caves, meeting each other and intertwining, formed a whole underground city. The workers descending underground had the pious custom of praying before the start of a new working day. At first they did it in front of a small homemade altar, and in 1932 the first modest chapel was built in the salt mines.
But since there were significantly more people who wanted to pray in the morning than the chapel could accommodate, the question of building a temple inevitably arose. Which was erected in the salt layer in the period from 1950 to 1954 and is dedicated to the patroness of miners - the Virgin Mary of the Rosary (La Virgen María del Rosario). TO Unfortunately, the galleries, inside which the temple is located, began to raise doubts about their safety. Therefore, it was decided to build a new temple at a much greater depth. In 1990, the old church was closed, and in 1991, construction began on the entire 32-hectare Parque de la Sal underground complex, which included the Salt Cathedral, which was opened five years later. It would be more correct, however, to call it a temple - after all, there is no bishop's chair with it, but we will stick to the official name Catedral de Sal.
The underground complex is located on four levels, of which only the second is open for visiting pilgrims and tourists. It also houses the main object of the Parque de la Sal - the new Salt Cathedral. And besides him - a museum of mining, mineralogy, geology and natural resources with a unique exposition, a large hall with an underground lake (the salinity of the water in it is comparable to the Dead Sea in Israel), a 3D cinema and souvenir shops where you can buy almost everything: from a refrigerator magnet to emeralds mined in Colombia.
In the Salt Cathedral, pilgrims and tourists descend by elevator and then by stairs. This underground temple is very representative construction 75 meters long and 25 meters high. The cathedral has three naves, separated by rows of columns and symbolizing Christmas, earthly life and the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are also 14 chapels here - in remembrance of the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross of the Savior of the world. The four salt columns of the temple symbolize the four Evangelists: the apostles Matthew, Luke, Mark and John the Evangelist.
Some of the statues of the Salt Cathedral are made of marble, and the other, more significant part, of rock salt, like many other interior elements: icons, various kinds of decorations and architectural details. The center of the inner space of the temple is a grandiose 16-meter cross with illumination, the colors of which change. Also, sculptures, icons and bas-reliefs of the underground temple are highlighted, which creates an indescribable feeling for the visitor.
On the floor is a copy of the famous fresco from the Sistine Chapel, where the Lord God breathes life into the first man Adam. Other attractions of the Salt Cathedral include the Chapel of the Virgin Mary of the Rosary - as well as the waterfall symbolizing the Jordan River in the Holy Land, in the waters of which Christ the Lord Himself was baptized.
Returning to the already mentioned staircase, it is necessary to mention one local belief. This staircase consists of three parallel descents with steps, separated by masses of salt - and each of those who come here is invited to choose one of three. It is believed that the left descent is chosen by restless souls, which are characterized by passions and doubts. The central descent is allegedly chosen by those who are inherent in insignificant, as they say, everyday sins. And, finally, the right descent is preferred by people whose soul is pure and their thoughts are bright.
The air in the Salt Cathedral and other rooms of the Parque de la Sal, despite the powerful ventilation, is saturated with salt particles, which has a beneficial effect on the health of people with lung diseases. But before descending here, it is better to seal the small wounds with a plaster: they can corrode.
In 2007, a large-scale survey was conducted in Colombia, following which seven of the country's most significant attractions were selected. Zipaquira's Salt Cathedral took first place in this ranking, gaining the largest number of votes.
Get to Zipaquira - one of the oldest cities in the country - by rail. A special bus runs from the railway station to the salt complex and back on weekends and holidays. The road he follows is called Camino de la Sal - 'The Salt Path'.
By the way, salt production in mines, whose age is about one and a half thousand years, is carried out today - Colombian scientists claim that its reserves will be enough for at least another half a millennium.

You can write a letter to God or light a candle in the temple .