5 Destinations for Religious Tourism in Colombia

Colombia is one of the countries with the highest number of Catholics in the world, and religious expressions are deeply rooted in the culture of its inhabitants. The fervor of Colombians is manifested in the beautiful churches found throughout the country, the processions, and the festivals surrounding the Virgin and the saints. These are the religious tourism destinations in Colombia that you must visit if you want to experience how Colombians live their faith.

Holy Week Celebration in Santa Fe de Antioquia

The Holy Week celebration in this municipality of Antioquia has more than 350 years of tradition, making it the oldest in the department and one of the most important religious manifestations in the country.

“Being home to an extraordinarily Catholic town, which is served by 7 beautiful colonial-style temples, is enhanced by the precious and abundant imagery sculpted in Spain and Quito and in the very Antioquian soil, images that, due to their undeniable pathos, call for reflection and devotion,” state the ecclesiastical authorities of the municipality on their website dedicated to Holy Week.

Among the Holy Week traditions in this town, the “sahumadoras” stand out, women responsible for lighting and carrying incense during the processions; the brotherhoods, legions of believers who, with their lanterns, dressed in robes and hoods, accompany the priests during the ceremonies; and the patrons, who are the owners of the saints “because in Santa Fe de Antioquia, unlike the vast majority of the country, the images do not belong to the church, but each saint has its owner.”

Religious Art Museum in Popayán

The Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art was created in 1972 to protect, conserve, catalog, restore, and exhibit religious art owned by the Archdiocese of Popayán, parishes, churches, convents, and some private individuals.

This place opened its doors to the public in a beautiful 18th-century neoclassical house in September 1979, and since then it has attracted thousands of national and foreign visitors who come to appreciate the oils, ornaments, goldsmithing, and sculptures brought from Spain and the Province of Quito. 

Due to its beauty and the artistic quality of the works exhibited there, the Religious Art Museum of Popayán is a must-visit for tourists who come to this city each year during the celebration of Holy Week and the Feast of the Virgin of the Assumption, two of the most important religious traditions in Cauca.

Sanctuary of Las Lajas

This beautiful Gothic-style church is considered a true gem of engineering and one of the most important churches in Colombia. The Sanctuary of Las Lajas stands majestically over the Guáitara River canyon, very close to the city of Ipiales, in Nariño, and according to legend, it is the place where the indigenous woman María Mueses and her daughter Rosa saw the image of the Virgin appear in 1754.

The Sanctuary consists of three naves covered with ribbed vaults and three towers; its windows are adorned with stained glass depicting the appearance of the Virgin Mary in various parts of the world, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, and Our Lady of Las Lajas, among others.

Called “A Miracle of God in the Abyss,” the Sanctuary of Las Lajas was declared the second wonder of Colombia in 2007.

Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá

This beautiful cathedral, located in the municipality of Zipaquirá, about two hours from Bogotá, is one of the most important religious tourism destinations in the country.

It was built in a mine considered the largest salt rock reserve in the world, 180 meters underground, and offers a unique experience to its visitors who, through guided tours or the “miner’s route,” can visit the three sections of the cathedral: the Stations of the Cross, with biblical scenes carved in rock; the dome, where a 16-meter tall luminous cross is seen; and a third section featuring the Creation scene and the nativity scene, crafted in marble using the technique of high relief. 

Additionally, the cathedral features a “Water Mirror,” where the dissolved salt in water simulates a perfect mirror reflecting the walls and ceilings of the mine. It is undoubtedly a spectacle that complements the journey through the world’s only underground temple. 

Villa de Leyva, Boyacá

The Encounter of Ancient Music in Villa de Leyva is one of the most important artistic activities during Holy Week in this municipality of Boyacá.

This event annually features the participation of important ensembles from both Colombia and abroad, who present beautiful works of sacred music in various venues throughout the municipality, such as the Temple of the San Agustín Cloister, the Carmen Square, and the Main Church of Villa de Leyva.

Organized by the Friends of Silence Foundation, a non-profit organization made up of a group of specialists in music and acoustics who seek to give greater prominence to sacred music, especially medieval, Renaissance, pre-baroque, and baroque music in Colombia.

Through the various activities revolving around the Catholic faith and the pilgrimage to imposing churches like the Sanctuary of Las Lajas and the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, it is possible to understand the importance of religion for the inhabitants of one of the most Catholic countries in the world. Include these destinations during your visit to Colombia and experience the fervor of Colombians up close.