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Itinerary: Heritage Sites & Architectural Delights
Fans of Spanish colonial architecture may well overdose on the wealth on offer in Colombia. Travel anywhere and you'll find perfectly preserved town squares, churches and mansions.
Bogota has the most stunning collection of churches, including the monumental Catedral Primada and the incredibly elaborate Iglesia de San Francisco. In terms of overall beauty, it's hard to beat the walled center of Cartagena. It's one of the best preserved historical centers, a Unesco World Heritage site and is particularly noted for its captivating balconies. Another Unesco site, the town of Mompos has a particular style of architecture all its own - arquitectura momposina. Other protected towns in northern Colombia include Villa de Leyva, Barichara and Giron. All contain fine central squares bordered by whitewashed buildings and a church. In particular, Barichara's church, when illuminated at night, is a sight to behold. The oldest town in western Colombia is Santa Fe de Antioquia, a quaint and tidy town with narrow streets and four churches. Finally, don't miss Popayan, whose architectural wonders include the spectacular Iglesia de San Francisco.
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