Official language: Spanish
Time zone: UTC -5
Currency: Colombian peso (COP)
One of the most important holidays in the city is Holy Week – during that time thousands of people come there to participate in famous processions. There is also a festival of sacral music taking place.
El Pueblito Patojo is one of the most popular attractions of Popayán. It is located in the neighbourhood of La Pamba, and has miniatures of all important spots of the city.
At conjunction of streets Carrera 2a and Calle 1a there is El Morro de Tulcan, that serves as a viewing point and a meeting place for locals. You will also see there a monument of founder of the city, Sebastian de Belalcazar.
Popayán is the capital of Colombian department Cauca, located in south-west part of the country. Despite the fact, that it is a relatively small town, whole year round it is vibrant. Deeply rooted religious tradition is mixed there with modern culture and street art.
Popayán is very popular city, thanks to its beautiful, colonial architecture, with characteristic Spanish influences. It can boast of greatly preserved historical part of the town. Since the 17th century, citizens and local government are trying to save white colour of buildings’ facades. They claim themselves to do it mainly to commemorate Easter celebrations. Thanks to that attentiveness, the city is often referred to as La Ciudad Blanca – the white city.
Cuisine and products made there are famous in the whole Colombia, as well as outside it. In Popayán there are taking place many events, which aim is to promote tastes of the region. One of the example can be a feast, taking place each September, on which there are presented new products, being effect of long-lasting debates and research conducted on National Gastronomic Congress. Many conferences, workshops and degustation accompany that event. Emphasize is on the value of taste and smell of food, but also, or maybe most of all, on its meaning in local culture. It may serve as the proof of the fact that Popayán is important city on the gastronomic map of the world: it got granted a title of the Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO.
Where to go to eat something? Thanks to attention that the town pays to cuisine, you will find there many splendid restaurants. One of the most popular places in Mora Catilla by Calle 2 4-44. You will eat there local snacks and have many types of drinks. For pizza step by a restaurant and pizzeria Italiano, situated by Calle 4 8-83. If after the whole day, you will feel very hungry, make sure to go to
La Cosecha Parrillada Centro at Calle 4 7-79. Portions are very big and dishes very tasty!