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The most important building in Manizales is the Manizales Cathedral (Catedral de Manizales). It’s located on Plaza de Bolívar.

Construction began in 1929 and was completed 30 years later. It is one of the most important cathedrals in Colombia. The cathedral’s much longer official name, Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary (Catedral Basílica Metropolitana Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Manizales)

Manizales Cathedral at Plaza de Bolívar in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
Manizales Cathedral

The cathedral was designed by French architect Julien Polti to emulate some of the historical churches in France. It has a tower raising 106m into the sky, making it the tallest church tower in Colombia.

Nave of Manizales Cathedral at Plaza de Bolívar in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
Nave

 

Café

One of the unique features of this cathedral is the fact it has a nice café on the 2nd level, reached via elevator. Tazzioli Café serves coffee and sweets overlooking Plaza de Bolívar below.

Tazzioli Café
Tazzioli Café

 

Guided Tours

Guided tours of the cathedral are available for COP$13,000 per person (as of May 2024). Tours are in Spanish and last about 90 minutes. They’re well worth it because they climb to the top of the cathedral’s tower for the most incredible views of Manizales. Tickets are purchased on the east side of the cathedral next to the elevator and start at the entrance to the café.

The first part of the tour lasts a half hour and is a lecture about the history of the cathedral and its construction. The guide goes over unique details of the architecture and talks about previous churches that once stood on the site. The guide also talks about the church bells and stained glass windows.

Stained glass window
Stained glass window

Next, we took a quick walk behind the altar to a vertigo-inducing outdoor stairway leading to the tower.

Looking down at the altar at Manizales Cathedral at Plaza de Bolívar in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
Looking down at the altar
Outdoor stairway
Outdoor stairway

Once inside the tower, a seemingly endless bright orange spiral staircase winds its way to the very top. Next to it sits the old wooden staircase. In the photo, the old staircase is to the right.

Looking down at the orange spiral staircase at Manizales Cathedral at Plaza de Bolívar in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
Looking down at the orange spiral staircase

It was a long way to the top but the views were stunning. After just a few minutes at the top, we made our way back down to the ground floor to end the tour.

Looking down on Plaza de Bolívar from the top of Manizales Cathedral in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
Looking down on Plaza de Bolívar
View from the top of Manizales Cathedral at Plaza de Bolívar in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
View from the top of Manizales Cathedral
View from the top of Manizales Cathedral at Plaza de Bolívar in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
View from the top of Manizales Cathedral
Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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