Picture of Iglesia de San Francisco and square (Popayán, Colombia)

Iglesia de San Francisco

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Old colonial town in southern Colombia, Popayán manages to make the visitor feel good because of its friendly, laid-back atmosphere and the beauty of its colonial architecture.
The name Popayán comes from an Indian dialect and means Two villages with straw roofs, even though none of the houses have straw roofs anymore. After its foundation, it developed as an important stopover for traffic between Quito and Cartagena, and managed to retain its colonial character. It is the capital of the department of Cauca. It suffered major destruction by earthquakes, the last one in 1983 - you can still see the damage in some parts of the city. Some of the churches had to be rebuilt. The city is also known for its university, and it has contributed disproportionally to Colombian culture, art and politics through famous poets, painters, and politicians. There even is a special building in the city centre, unfortunately not open for visitors, where the famous sons and daughters of the city are buried. Walking the city continued to be a pleasure during my stay, even though the best day to visit definitely is Sunday because there are so few cars on the streets. When I finally had to leave Popayán, I felt sad at having to leave the charming town behind.
Read more about: Popayán

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