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On a sunday there is a service and it might be an idea to experience how it feels like inside the mine.
Visitors are allowed with an entrance fee at intervals ans in particular number to keep a a certain number of visitior inside at a time.
Light is not enough inside as a result you may not be able to take good photographs with a normal camera. Leave a Comment
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Around 50km (32 miles) south of Bogotá lies Zipaquirá, an area well-known for its many salt mines, one of which contains the famous Salt Cathedral (capable of accommodating 8400 people).
Good design-color and lighting arrangement makes it a memorable experience visiting the mine-cathedral. Leave a Comment
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The mines were opened centuries ago by Chibcha Indians and are still worked today. Deep inside is an enormous cathedral, carved directly from the walls of the salt mine. If you do visit, be sure to dress warmly - it gets chilly underground. Normally, the drive to Zipaquira takes 50 minutes. Leave a Comment
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In the USA travel channel show "Latin 5 Takes", they showed a saltmine (similar to the one in Krakow, Poland ) which is located at the outskirts of Bogota. I hired a driver to bring me to the site which is over an hour away from the city of Bogota.
The Zipaquira Salt Cathedral was built into the walls of a salt mine nearly 600 feet into a mountain. Salt deposits in Zipaquirá were formed 250 million years ago, and were raised above sea level during the late Tertiary period, when the Andes were formed. The mines were exploited by the Muisca culture in the eras before the Spanish came to the Americas.
As you go down through the tunnel, you notice the deposits on the wall which are salty to the taste and sulfury to olfaction. A guide brings you to several altars through winding tunnels.
Inevitably, you descend into the Roman Catholic temple, passing 14 small chapels representing the stations of the cross, which illustrate the events of Jesus' last journey. The cathedral itself is 75m (246ft) long and 18m (59ft) high, and can accommodate a staggering 8400 people! This cathedral was inaugurated only in 1995.
In 1950 the construction of a bigger project was begun: the Salt Cathedral which was inaugurated in 1954. However, as the cathedral was carved inside an active mine, structural problems and safety concerns led the authorities to shut down the sanctuary in 1990. In 1991 the construction of a new Cathedral was undertaken, 200 feet under the older one.
You also can buy little statues made of salt that are great souvenirs - I bought the "Last Supper" and a little staue of the Zipaquira "miner" whose statue is at the entrance of the saltmine.
Adults US$ 12, Children (4-12) USD 6, Seniors (60+) USD 6.
Groups (50+): Adults US$ 11.40, Children (4-12) USD 5.70, Seniors (60+) USD 5.70.
Groups (100+): Adults US$ 10.80, Children (4-12) USD 5.40, Seniors (60+) USD 5.40.
Groups (150+): Adults US$ 10.20, Children (4-12) USD 5.10, Seniors (60+) USD 5.10.
Groups (200+): Adults US$ 9.60, Children (4-12) USD 4.80, Seniors (60+) USD 4.80.
Museo de la Salmuero: Adults USD 1.50.
Wednesday: half price, no grouip reductions.
[2007] Leave a Comment Address: ZipaquiraPhone: 57 1 852 2779Directions: 49 km northwest of Bogota
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on June 4, 2005
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