The Seven Wonders of Colombia: Architectural Jewels That Tell the Story of a Nation

In 2007, the newspaper El Tiempo organized a national vote to choose the Seven Wonders of Colombia, focusing on man-made structures that reflect the identity, ingenuity, and cultural evolution of the country. The result was a list of monuments ranging from colonial temples to 19th-century engineering feats, all with deep symbolic and historical value. Below, we share their stories and the architectural details that make them unique.

The seven wonders of Colombia

Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira

Located 180 meters underground, the Salt Cathedral is a Catholic sanctuary carved in the heart of a salt mine in the municipality of Zipaquira, Cundinamarca. Its history began in 1932 with a rudimentary chapel built by miners, but the current structure was inaugurated in 1995 after years of engineering and design work. The cathedral blends modern architecture with religious symbolism in a natural environment of salt and rock. Its central nave is flanked by monumental crosses, illuminated tunnels, and sculptures carved directly in halite. It is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, combining spirituality, geology, and architectural innovation.

@elmundoesunviaje ✝️ Visitamos una catedral de sal ✝️ 📍Está situada en el pequeño pueblo de Zipaquirá, a una 1h de Bogotá. ⬇️ Está situada a 180 metros bajo tierra, en una mina de sal. Para llegar a ella hay que recorrer 1km bajo el subsuelo. ¿Te atreverías a visitarla? #catedraldesaldezipaquira #zipaquira #catedraldesal🇨🇴 #colombia🇨🇴 #visitcolombia🇨🇴 #traveltiktok ♬ Chillest in the Room – L.Dre

Las Lajas Sanctuary

Built over the gorge of the Guaitara River in Ipiales (Nariño), this neo-Gothic sanctuary looks like something from a medieval tale. It was constructed between 1916 and 1949 on the site where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to an Indigenous woman and her daughter in the 18th century. The structure is integrated into a 50-meter-high bridge that connects the two sides of the canyon. Its pointed towers, colorful stained-glass windows, and pointed arches reflect architecture inspired by Europe’s great cathedrals, masterfully adapted to the Andean landscape.

@sergiotrips ESTÁ ES UNA DE LAS 7 MARAVILLAS DE COLOMBIA🇨🇴 El santuario nuestra señora del Rosario de Las Lajas. 📍ubicado en el municipio de ipiales, nosotros salimos desde la ciudad de pasto, aproximadamente hora y media. El ingreso al santuario es totalmente gratis y allí encontrarás, artesanías, restaurantes y vistas impresionantes de este lugar mágico único en Colombia y el mundo. Definitivamente me enamoro más de Colombia y qué lindo poder compartir con todos ustedes las maravillas de Colombia🇨🇴 #ipiales #nariño #colombia #santuariodelaslajas #pueblitoscolombianos ♬ sonido original – Sergio Gómez

San Felipe de Barajas Castle

This impressive fortress rises in Cartagena de Indias as a symbol of colonial resistance. Built by the Spanish starting in 1536 and expanded into the 18th century, the castle was designed using military architecture based on defensive strategy. Its star-shaped walls, hidden tunnels, and batteries were built to control land access to the city. The fortress’s robust construction in coral stone and brick reflects the military expertise of the time and Cartagena’s strategic importance to the Spanish Empire.

@aventurascartagena Castillo de San Felipe – Cartagena,Colombia #paratiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii #viajar #travel #cartagena #fypシ゚ #vacaciones #turimocolombia #tendencia #castillodesanfelipe #turimocolombia ♬ La Fantástica – Carlos Vives

Teatro Colon, Bogota

The Colon Theater in Bogota, inaugurated in 1892, is a gem of Italian neoclassical style. Its architect, Pietro Cantini, drew inspiration from La Scala Theater in Milan. The building features a sober yet elegant façade and a richly decorated interior with marble, frescoes, gilded moldings, and a dome painted by Colombian artist Annibale Gatti. It has hosted the country’s most important cultural events, from operas to historic speeches—such as the 2016 peace accords.

@valerialdev Amé❤️ #teatrocolon #lugaresbogota #bogota #teatro #elcrimendelsiglo ♬ Jazz Suite No. 2: Waltz No. 2 – Alexandre Desplat

San Pedro Claver Church

Located in the heart of Cartagena’s historic center, this church was built between 1580 and 1654 by the Jesuits. Designed in Spanish colonial style, it features a hand-carved coral stone façade and a white dome that contrasts beautifully with the Caribbean sky. The church honors Saint Peter Claver, known as the “slave of the slaves,” who dedicated his life to aiding enslaved Africans brought to the Americas. His remains rest inside the temple, making it a site of memory and historical reflection.

@angiegoez_ Cartagena es magia por todos lados. 🇨🇴 #planescartagena #cupula #sanpedroclaver #cartagena #colombia ♬ sonido original – diego_barrera_requinto

San Agustin Archaeological Park

Though not a modern construction, this park was included for its monumental pre-Columbian value. The Monastery of San Agustín and the surrounding area house funerary sculptures and ceremonial tombs carved by a still-enigmatic culture that flourished between the 1st and 8th centuries. The stone figures—anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, and mythological—demonstrate a remarkable level of artistic abstraction and advanced technical knowledge in carving volcanic rock.

@emanuelgiraldogo Parque Arqueológico de San Agustín, Huila 🇨🇴✨ Esta es la necrópolis prehispánica más grande del plante a tierra, y además una de las culturas y civilización indígenas más antiguas de América junto a la de Caral en el Perú, está ubicada en el municipio de San Agustín en el departamento de Huila, a unos 17h de Medellín, yo decidí volar hasta Neiva y de ahí tomar un bus de 4h hasta llegar al municipio. La entrada tiene un costo de 45.000 cop para nacionales y recomiendo por lo menos unas 3h para visitar el parque, que cuenta con unas impresionantes figuras zoomorfas y antropomorfas de sus antiguas deidades, además es patrimonio de la humanidad desde 1995 ✨🙌🏻 #sanagustin #parquearqueologico #turismocolombia #turismohuila #turismo ♬ Outdoors, trekking, corporate VP, CM(1021553) – KuromiJah

Puente de Occidente (Bridge of the West)

Designed by Antioquian engineer Jose Maria Villa—who also contributed to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York—the Puente de Occidente was inaugurated in 1895. This suspension bridge made of wood and steel spans the Cauca River between Santa Fe de Antioquia and Olaya. It was one of the longest of its kind in Latin America at the time. Its structure is supported by cables anchored to brick towers, showcasing the advanced engineering capabilities of the late 19th century.

@alcaldiasantafeant Puente de Occidente en Santa Fe de Antioquia 😍 #travel #puente #estructuras #pueblos ♬ sonido original – F.Music