Top Religious Sites in Colombia for Easter Week

With Holy Week coming up later this month, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, many people are looking for tourist destinations in Colombia that fulfil religious and traditional desires.

Top Religious Sites to Visit in Colombia

With this in mind, here are a few of the places that Colombians and tourists may consider visiting during Holy Week – from Sunday, March 24 to Sunday, March 30.

Villa de Leyva

Famous for its colonial architecture, this town is perfectly quiet and peaceful during holy week. Because of this relaxed vibe, it has become very popular with Colombians and tourists alike, not to mention the variety of religious and traditional cultural activities that take place there.

The town is home to a main church and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, which act as the focal point for religious events during holy week, which include processions and others ceremonious activities – Colombian style. There are also artistic and recreational performances to stimulate the senses.

Zipaquira

Another intriguing visit to make during holy week is to the Salt Cathedral in the municipality of Zipaquira, in Cundinamarca, which boasts religious and touristic importance, with yearly gatherings of parishioners who participate in the activities during holy week.

Located 180 meters under the ground, with a 390-meter-long Way of the Cross representing the path of Jesus Christ towards the crucifixion and burial, the cathedral made of salt is uniquely impressive.

Pasto

The city of Pasto is renowned in Colombia as a holy city, thanks to its religious and cultural significance since the colonial era. During holy week, tourists and locals attend an array of religious processions and festivities.

The city is heavily catholicised, with plenty of symbolism and icons housed within a great variety of temples, including the Sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de las Lajas, the Church of San Juan Bautista, the Church of San Santiago de Pasto, the Temple of La Concepcion, the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Temple of Christ the King.

Mompox

A smaller city, Mompox – located in the department of Bolivar, in northern Colombia – is also known for its colonial architecture. Over the years it has become synonymous with religious heritage and celebration, and UNESCO considers the traditional processions to be a historical and cultural heritage.

Popayan

Last but not least is the city of Popayan, which has been shaped by more than 450 years of tradition and thus stands as the epicenter of religious festivities in Colombia. UNESCO also considers this place a cultural and intangible heritage of humanity. Every year thousands of people visit to marvel at the various religious and artistic expressions relating to Jesus Christ.