One of the most well-known religious temples is the Cathedral of the Holy Family. Learn more about this work of religious architecture in the country.

In Bucaramanga, the capital of the Santander region, stands the Cathedral of the Holy Family, a monument to the country’s religious architecture.

The cathedral of Bucaramanga is one of the most important religious temples in the city, and its impressive structure, which includes a yellow and green dome, stands out over the busy street 36, occupying a total space of 72.20 meters in length and 32.50 meters in width.

The cathedral consists of three sections: a main altar with an interior height of 11.73 meters, and two side altars. Additionally, it has 10 columns in the side aisles with direct access to the street. The ceiling was finished with handcrafted stucco and metal work.

Two bells ring from the eastern tower of the Cathedral of the Holy Family to mark an important event or religious celebration, and right below them, there is a clock, a relic made in Medellín and gifted by the Society of Public Improvements.

Inside this cathedral in Colombia, the chair and the main altar made of Carrara marble stand out, and on the sides, the religious stained glass windows and several religious paintings by Luis Alberto Acuña and Óscar Rodríguez Naranjo.

You may also be interested in: Religious tourism: Explore the Andean faith routes in Colombia.

History of the Cathedral of the Holy Family

The history of the cathedral of Bucaramanga begins in 1895 when Father Uribe Villarreal insisted on building a new church for the city. The construction took several years, and only in 1928 were the decoration works and cladding on the interior and facade of this cathedral, an example of the country's religious architecture, completed.

In 1952, Pope Pius XII declared the Holy Family as the Cathedral of the Diocese, marking an important event for this monument, which went from being a regular parish church to becoming the official residence of the Bishop.

A few decades later, on December 14, 1974, by decree of Pope Paul VI, the city's Diocese was elevated to the Archdiocese of Bucaramanga, choosing the Cathedral of the Holy Family as its Cathedral.

Discover: Travel through history by exploring these heritage towns.

About Bucaramanga

The Cathedral of the Holy Family stands on a warm sunset that lights up the colonial streets of Bucaramanga.
Credit: mehdi33300 / Shutterstock.com

Enjoy all the tourist offer that Bucaramanga has for you.

The Cathedral of the Holy Family is located in front of Parque Santander, one of the more than 1,000 parks that characterize Bucaramanga, also known as ‘The Beautiful City’ or ‘The City of Parks’. Its pleasant warm climate and diverse tourist offer make it one of the must-visit destinations when visiting Colombia.

In addition to visiting the Cathedral of Bucaramanga, some activities you can do in the city include:

  • Climbing the Cerro del Santísimo and enjoying an impressive view while getting to know this immense 40-meter statue of Jesus.

  • Discovering the Chicamocha Canyon, the second deepest in the world, and engaging in countless extreme sports.

Visiting Barichara, one of the destinations in Colombia’s ‘Heritage Towns’ network, and marveling at its colonial architecture.

We hope you decide to visit the Cathedral of the Holy Family and enjoy all the activities and adventures that Bucaramanga has to offer you.