The department of Goallocated in the center of the country, for years has been one of the main tourist destinations for thousands of Colombians and foreigners, who seek to enjoy its beautiful sunrises and enjoy the variety gastronomic and cultural that characterize its 29 municipalities.
The Goal It enjoys great recognition worldwide, since it has been the cradle of great artists of llanera music and folklore dancers, that have carried that of Colombia on high for years. But, although the llaneros they are proud of these expressions, they want to show that their cultural traditions go further.
This is why, the Departmental Institute of Culture of Metahas bet on extolling the patrimonial memory and material from at least four important municipalities in the region. Baptized as creative and cultural districts.
Restrepo: ‘salt capital’
The first of these districts is located in Restrepo (Goal)on the Pie de Monte Llanero route, just 30 minutes from Villavicencio and is named: faith, tradition and culture.
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Restrepoalso known as the ‘salt capital’was founded in 1906 as a result of the mining exploitation of the Upin deposits, by the prisoners of the colony. The mine, being the only source of employment, gradually grew and its workers formed the first hamlet that eventually came to have a health center, school and local administration.
This destination is characterized by receiving thousands of parishioners on each festivity who entrust themselves to the Virgin Mary, in the beautiful Immaculate Conception Shrine, one of the most precious architectural relics of the municipality.
Another of its attractions are the delicious preparations of its traditional chefs, in which the rice bread stands out; a mixture of curd, rice, water and salt perfect to enjoy with arequipe and yogurt.
And if to take a memory of Salinas it is, the corner of the crafts right next to shrine will allow you to relive the history of the town through small sculptures made by their own traditional artisans.
