Steam Train to the Salt Cathedral (Part 3)

The mountains around Zipaquira have been mined for salt even before the Spaniards arrived.

Salt is still being mined here, but the salt mines also provide a major tourist attraction.

A mine just on the outskirts of Zipaquira features the Catedral de Sal (the Salt Cathedral) which draws hundreds of tourists every day.

Mixing Catholicism with an underground salt mine is a winning combination in Colombia. There are, of course, the Stations of th Cross carved out of wall of the mine, and angels and a nativity carved out of salt.

The whole thing culminates in an underground cathedral where mass is celebrated. We saw a mass just winding down.

There is a big underground gift store where you can buy salt carvings, emerald jewelry, and other souvenirs.

When we were just about done with the guided tour of religious aspects of the mine we noticed there was a real salt mine tour that was also available. That would have been more interesting to us, but by that time it was time to get on the with the itinerary (there was only about an hour scheduled for the mine).

Oh well. If I ever visit the mine in Zipaquira again I will know to skip the Catholic tour and head straight for the salt mine tour.

It was still a lot of fun, in a tacky sort of way, we thought.