Iglesia La Ermita
Heads up: the church was seriously damaged in the August 10, 2026 earthquake. Check whether it's open before you go; you can see the outside from the boulevard. Neo-Gothic church in downtown Cali, on the bank of the Cali River along Avenida Colombia, completed in 1942. It's the starting point of the Bulevar del Río.
- Price
- Free (it's a working church)
- Price
- Free
- Duration
- 0 to 2 hours
- Address
- Avenida Colombia at Calle 13, next to the Cali River, downtown Cali
There was a chapel on this spot from 1592, dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los Dolores and the Señor de la Caña. Earthquakes brought it down more than once, and the image of the Señor de la Caña survived; in 1876 it was given the title of Savior of Cali.
The church you see today was finished in 1942. Engineer Pablo Emilio Páez designed it using Ulm Cathedral in Germany as a model, and it was built with money raised by Cali resident Micaela Castro Borrero. It has three naves, a ribbed vault, stained glass windows of the apostles and white marble altars.
It sits at the foot of the Bulevar del Río and the Puente Ortiz, so you can see it on the same walk through downtown.
What to see
- The white and blue facade with its pointed towers.
- The white marble altar of the Señor de la Caña.
- The stained glass windows of the apostles.
- The view of the church from the Puente Ortiz.
Getting there
- On foot from the Bulevar del Río: the church is at the Calle 13 end.
- Taxi or car to Avenida Colombia and Calle 13.
Tips
- It's a working church: go in quietly and respect Mass.
- Combine the visit with the Bulevar del Río and the Puente Ortiz, right next to it.
FAQ
What year is La Ermita church from?
The current building was finished in 1942, though there was a chapel on the site from 1592.
What is the Señor de la Caña?
It's the religious image that survived the earthquakes that brought down the old chapel. In 1876 it was named Savior of Cali.
How much does it cost to go in?
There's no entry fee; it's a working church.
On the map
Photos: JUAN MANUEL GONZALEZ RESTREPO, Unsplash License · Carlosenriquechaconm, CC BY-SA 4.0 · C arango, Public domain · DAIRO CORREA, Todos los derechos reservados · Tim L Lowe, Todos los derechos reservados · Wikimedia Commons
