Popayán is a colonial-era city in south-western Colombia, capital of the Cauca department. The city was founded in the year 1537 by Sebastian de Belalcazar. Because of its beautiful colonial houses, it is known as the "white city". Popayán has played a major role in Colombia's history dating back to the early days of the Spanish conquest and into the twentieth century. It has one of Colombia's oldest universities: the Universidad del Cauca, founded in 1827. The University is well known throughout the country for its Law School, Medical School, and its Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering programs.

Tourist Offices
Visit Silvia, about one hour from Popayán, in the land of the Guambiano Indians. There is a spectacular market there on Tuesdays

Sightseeing
There are numerous architectural gems in the city. Some of the most impressive are, naturally, churches. Do not miss: Iglesia de San Francisco, Iglesia La Hermita, and Belem, which is perched on top of a small hill overlooking Popayán. Popayán's central square is called the Parque de Caldas. On one side of the square is a city landmark called the Torre del Reloj or the 'Clock Tower.' The clock was designed by Caldas himself. A few doors down from the Torre del Reloj is the city's Cathedral, which was badly damaged during the major earthquake that almost destroyed the whole city on March 31, 1983. The city took a few years to recover from that earthquake but all buildings were restored to their former glory. The city is world-renowned for its Easter celebrations, or the Semana Santa. Every night during Semana Santa, there are processions in the streets and tens of thousands of people line the pavement to watch as floats pass by with religious motifs. The floats are carried on the shoulders of human volunteers. It's a major cultural event that is witnessed by people from all over the country.

Getting there
Popayán's airport does not have heavy traffic but you can reach the city by air. There are about four daily flights from Bogotá to Popayán and vice versa. In Colombia it is common to travel by taxi between major cities. You can get a shared cab at any major transportation terminal. If you want a cab just for yourself, you will need to pay the equivalent fare as if the cab was full. The bus from Cali to Popayán takes only two hours and there are numerous bus companies available.