Barichara city - Santander

Altitude: 1.300 m. a. s. l.
Temperature: 21ºC.
Distance from Bucaramanga: 110Km.
From San Gil: 20 Km.

Barichara is a municipality of Santander; its name might mean “Place of resting or blooming trees” in Guane´s language.

It is a wonderful place, each street, corner and window conserves a secret, a wish, a dream, and an incredible place, pacific and colonial. The historic center of Barichara was declared national monument on August 3, 1978.

Legend: “Milagro de Piedra"(Stone Miracle)

At the beginning of XVII, in 1972, According to the legend, a native met the Virgin. The apparition was on a stone, the image was clearly. The miracle was disclosed and the natives turned the stone as an adoration reason. The inhabitants decided to build a church, but the priest of that time didn’t believe believe them.

This historical fact inspired to don Francisco Pradilla and Eyerbe, for founding a small village in 1705. The parish was built in 1571; at the beginning it was named Baraflorida, then Barbechada and finally Barichara.

The church didn’t accept the image existence on the stone; it is true that the miracle will be appreciated trough the history.

How to arrive

Form San Gil, there are buses to Barichara, every half and hour.

Tourist Attractions

Aquileo Parra Gomez’s House

It is located to the south of the city, on its façade, there is a bronze plaque. Nowadays, beside it, there is an orphanage named “Centro Día”, craftworks workshops of old age; it was adapted and re-inaugurated in 2003. Nowadays it has workshops, coffee shop and a conference room.

Cathedral of Immaculate Conception

Its dome is similar to Vatican’s one, the temple is supported on ten columns, its major altar and its wings are covered by gold laminates. The chapel is dedicated to Virgin of the Stone.

It was inaugurated in 2002, the façade illumination was done and sponsored by Codensa from Bofotá and Endesa from Spain, its ceiling and the presbytery were restored thanks to Jorge Velandia task, priest in that epoch.

El Salto del Mico (waterfall)

It is an impressive waterfall that is formed by a fall of Barichara gully towards Canyon of Suarez River among a rough landscape.

The Cemetery

It is a beautiful place, has different works in carved stone, a great art sample that doesn’t exist in our environment, the forged iron.

Chapel of San Antonio

It was built at the expense of Don Narciso Reyes, beside, there is an old people’s home named San Antonio whose attention is in charge of San Pedro Claver Sisters.

La Chorrera Natural Park

It is formed by potreros full of grass, shady gardens, different of bushes; surrounded by gullies with crystal clear waters among sandstones forming a well with a beautiful waterfall.

Festivities

- February 11, Virgin of Stone’s Day: virgin of sculptors
- August 10, San Lorenzo Mártir´s Day, patron Saint of Barichara.
- December 8, Immaculate Concepcion´s Day, virgin of Barichara.
- December from16 – 24, Aguinaldo Patiamarillo.

Useful information

Mayor´s Office: Street 5 Nº 6-39, Phone: 7267052
Hospital: Phone 7267400
Police: Phone, 7267113