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Elevated view of Popayán with its white dome and colonial rooftops, surrounded by green hills and distant mountains

Popayán, Colombia

A small colonial city (under 300,000 metropolitan) in southwestern Colombia at 7,600 feet above sea level. Popayán is the capital of the Cauca Department and is renowned for its well-preserved colonial architecture, including whitewashed churches, monasteries, mansions, and narrow streets, earning it the nickname "La Ciudad Blanca" (The White City). The city was founded in 1537 and is famous for its Holy Week (Semana Santa) processions, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The city is also home to one of the oldest universities in the Americas, the University of Cauca, founded in 1827. The average high temperature is around 76°F, and the average low is 56°F. Popayán experiences year-round rainfall, averaging about 84 inches annually, with a climate classified as subtropical highland. The surrounding region is geologically active and includes Puracé Volcano, part of Puracé National Natural Park, which is rich in biodiversity and a destination for ecotourism and hiking.

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San Francisco Church in Popayán with an ornate yellow façade, twin towers, and a statue in the central square

A white church with a stone steps entrance under blue sky

The neoclassical façade of Popayán’s Cathedral Basilica with tall columns, arched doors, and sculpted figures above the entrance

The white dome and façade of the Cathedral of Popayán rising behind trees and colonial buildings in a lively central plaza

A wide pedestrian avenue in the historic center of Popayán lined with colonial buildings painted white, bustling with locals and tourists

Large colonial plaza in Popayán surrounded by whitewashed buildings with black-trimmed balconies and flowering trees

Sloped cobblestone street in Popayán lined with traditional homes painted in soft colors and framed by decorative window grills

Colonial-style government buildings in Popayán with white façades, iron balconies, and arched windows under a bright blue sky

A quiet colonial street in Popayán lined with whitewashed buildings, red and stone trim, small shops, and parked vehicles under a clear sky

Symmetrical white buildings in Popayán’s historic core with narrow balconies and a bell tower rising above the street