Popayán, often called the “White City,” is one of Colombia’s best-preserved colonial cities and an important religious center in the southwest of the country. Its historic center is filled with whitewashed churches, plazas, monasteries, and narrow streets that become especially active during Semana Santa, whose processions are recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Beyond the religious celebrations, the city also contains museums, viewpoints, and small cultural landmarks spread across the surrounding hills.
We stayed in Popayán for a week in April 2026, and by chance our visit coincided almost entirely with Holy Week before Easter. The city was full of processions, music, candles, and crowds moving through the streets each evening. Besides photographing the festivities and many churches, we also visited places like Morro de Tulcán, Pueblito Patojo, and the Museum of Natural History while walking through different parts of the city during the week.
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