Zipaquira, Colombia
The story of the Cathedral of Salt of Zipaquira is certainly one of
persistence. The original cathedral was carved out of an active salt
mine beginning in 1950. Inaugurated in 1954, the cathedral the only
lasted for 36 years before authorities, worried about its structural
soundness, shut it down. This, however, did not deter the town of
Zipaquira. In 1991, only a year after shuttering the old cathedral, work
began on a new salt church some 200 feet below the old one.
The current salt cathedral is roughly 75 meters long and 25 meters
high, with a giant cross carved into the back wall. It can theoretically
accommodate 10,000 people. Smaller naves dug out around the main
chamber illustrate the life of Christ from birth to crucifixion. While
clearly devoted to Catholicism, the salt "cathedral" is not in fact
recognized by the Church, and has no official status. This doesn't stop
the 3,000-plus visitors that come to the cathedral on most Sundays from
praising the glory of both God and his mineral-ensconced home.
