29/03/2022
The Most Impressive Churches in Manizales for Religious Tourism
There are many reasons to visit the capital of Caldas: its culture, tradition, and variety of climates are just a few of its highlights. And as Holy Week approaches, we?ve compiled a list of churches you can visit for religious tourism, to learn more about their history and treasures:
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manizales
First, we have the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manizales, located in front of Plaza de Bolívar. It has a capacity for five thousand worshippers, covers an area of 2,400 square meters, and stands at a height of 106 meters, making it the tallest cathedral in the country. In 2019, efforts were made to have it recognized similarly to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain.
Its spires and Gothic style make it an attractive religious tourism monument for locals and visitors. Inside, you?ll find the Polish Corridor, which reaches 104 meters high and includes a platform at the top for panoramic views of the city. It also features a skywalk?a tempered glass floor at the base of the cathedral tower.
Church of the Immaculate Conception
Also located in the city center, very close to the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica, is the Church of the Immaculate Conception. It was built in Neo-Gothic style and adorned with fine cedar wood. The church features valuable artistic works such as a marble pulpit with inlays brought from Paris and a French Stations of the Cross.
San Pio X Chapel
Located in the La Enea neighborhood, San Pio X Chapel laid its first stone in 1878. That same year, the first mass was celebrated in what was then dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. It is the oldest church in the city, designed in the shape of a cross with colonial American architecture. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1983. On December 24, 2010, a fire destroyed the temple. Reconstruction began in 2016, and mass resumed on August 28, 2017.
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Another temple worth visiting is the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, also known as the Church of the Augustinians. It features Neo-Gothic style and an interior that resembles medieval temples. It was designed by Master Clímaco Agudelo. In 1955, it was struck by lightning, causing a fire that required a reconstruction process lasting eight years.
In Caldas
Two municipalities in the department stand out for their religious tourism tradition:
Belalcázar, for its Christ the King monument, one of the major religious pilgrimage centers in the Coffee Axis. It can host up to 2,500 people and offers views of the Risaralda valley and the Western mountain range.
In Salamina, you'll find the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which was designated as a Minor Basilica in 2012. It also features renowned sanctuaries such as the Chapel of Las Mercedes, the Cemetery Chapel, and Cristo Rey.
