Salamina Caldas10.1

In the department of Caldas, 76 kilometers north of the city of Manizales is Salamina, a municipality with a great tradition coffee that retains a beautiful characteristic architectural ensemble of the Antiochian colonization, being declared National Monument and Historical Patrimony of Colombia in 1982.

With approximately 30,000 inhabitants, Salamina is also recognized as the birthplace of important musicians poets, actors and writers, for it receives the nickname "City of Light" of Caldas.

When placed on a mountain knife (particular characteristic of much of the towns and villages of the old Caldas), more precisely framed by the deep canyons of Chamberí, La Frijolera and San Lorenzo rivers, it is possible to contemplate wonderful landscapes coffee accompanied by spectacular sunsets .

Much of its buildings were erected between two and three floors under construction techniques of rammed earth and adobe, further characterized by its colorful decoration of wood carvings on balconies, windows and doors, not to mention its large central courtyards and large eaves.

His great point is the Plaza de Bolivar, mainly on weekends when people come to the workers of different rural areas to make their market and to participate in the Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

And Santa Fe de Antioquia is worthy representative of the Antiochian idiosyncrasy, Salamina it is for the caldense people. central point in the development of the Antiochian colonization into the lands of the old Caldas, is today a monument to the cultural complex that spread to the south of Antioquia and managed to get up on the tops and steep slopes of the mountains. Salamina, declared a National Monument in 1982 and subsequently fine national cultural interest, stands on the crest of a blade framed by the deep canyons of rivers and Frisolera Chamberí.

Such town-monument is far from being a set of uniform colors such as El Cocuy in Boyaca or Santander Barichara. Their large houses, many two or three floors, stand out for their variety of shades and careful work of ornamentation and wood carving their shutters, windows and doors. In Salamis, along with other towns like Salento, the aforementioned Santa Fe de Antioquia, Aranzazú or garden, constructions overhang dimensions, large solar and patios and construction techniques of mud and wattle and daub, representing the estates and coffee houses.

The landscape that prevails in many of the municipalities of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda and Quindio, also assumes its typical architecture, a number of elements without which it would be impossible to recreate the daily life of this region: trattorias and cafes, carrilera music, jeeps willies to transport cargo and people, and a deep religious devotion. This can be confirmed in the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, located in Bolivar Square, where at any time of day parishioners will be praying inside.

One of the most remarkable traditions, reports that the village was recognized by chiggers; small insects like fleas, allegedly made more intelligent victims; sentence that seems valid if one considers that Salamis is the birthplace of poets and writers, which has given him the nickname "city of light". A propositio of chiggers and poets, the Bambuco "the Nigua," as distinguished insect exalts as have Machado with his poem "Flies" and Serrat in the respective song.