Colombia | Cultural Tourism generates $ 300 million Per Year

 

Cultural tourism in Colombia has generated an average economic benefit of about $ 300 million per year, the "Country of Beauty" as it is nicknamed this Latin American Nation with a wonderful cultural diversity with great attractions everywhere in its territory and numerous awards received internationally make this South American American country a unique destination.

With nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 11 international events, 8 cities that stand out on the lists, 1,113 BIC National Heritage of Cultural Interest, 45 historic centers declared of high cultural interest, 22 areas and 5 archaeological parks, 23 events included in the list of national heritage and more than 6,6oo resources and tourist attractions and cultural attractions make up the enviable Colombian curriculum vitae.

A large budget has been allocated by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism to support the tourist influx motivated by all these attractions through Fontur to activate the Colombia Cultural Tourism Policy, a creative and above all sustainable cultural destination that greatly aspires to be able to improve the conditions of sustainability and competitiveness of the country's cultural tourism.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism of Colombia underlined the importance of the 2022 – 2026 Tourism Sector plan, a four-year period that proposes to develop and consolidate important itineraries included in the field of Cultural Tourism prepared in order to recover multiculturalism, social dynamics and biodiversity; of Colombian territories.

One of the projects of great importance and absolute highlight is the route associated with the Independence and the Liberation Campaign in 40 municipalities of the provinces of Arauca, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Casanare, Norte de Santander and Santander.

Other initiatives that stand out are the reactivation of the Tourist Network of Heritage Peoples and the development of the protocol for the development of Indigenous Tourism of the CRIC, Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca.

The management of Fontur then emphasized in the Colombian media that Cultural Tourism is essential for the development of territories by attracting visitors with experiences of regional cultures.

Link : https://www.expreso.info/noticias/internacional/101203_el_turismo_cultural_con_nuevo_impulso_en_colombia

Hotel Tapa Tour | Homage to the Iconic Tapas Culture Returns in Madrid, Spain

 From the 19th to the 29th of September, the iconic "tapa", those small, traditional dishes served as a light snack during happy hour or as appetizers before the main course, returns as an ambassador of good taste and cuisine in the hotels of Madrid with Hotel Tapa Tour an event that in its nine years of history has represented a sort of unique festival of its kind, elevating "Las Tapas" as an integral part of "informal haute cuisine" in Spain.

The Hotel Tapa Tour invites you to discover these gastronomic delights in the restaurants, terraces and bars of the most emblematic hotels in Madrid, a distinctive, culinary hymn with protagonist the good food which combines the verbs to taste, share and toast loyal to the splendid, cultural identity of Spain.

These itinerant snacks are set in magazine environments to enjoy these morsels inspired by the most iconic dishes of the participating hotels in a gastro-hotel era where the symbiosis between hotels and restaurants is absolute and all that in its kind makes this event very fascinating.

Although more and more hotels are making signature cuisine their main letter of introduction, hotel restaurants are still the big unknowns but The Hotel Tapa Tour will resolve these theoretical doubts offering an informal, cheap and appetizing dish, a path of signature tapas wrapped in magazine environments in a beautiful setting called Madrid.

Link : https://www.expreso.info/noticias/hoteles/101036_vuelve_hotel_tapa_tour_una_oda_la_cultura_de_la_tapa

Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo – Arona | Venerated Giant Protector of Lake Maggiore

 

On a hill overlooking the town of Arona and Lake Maggiore stands the majestic colossus of San Carlo Borromeo also known as San Carlone, a  monumental statue erected in honor of an influential figure native of this locality who belonged to one of the most important dynasties that made the fortunes of this area  beatified in 1610 who was Cardinal and Archbishop of the Milanese Curia.

Once you reached the municipal terms of Arona begins the steep slope that leads to the Sacred Mount of Arona along a road of the Alto Vergante.

On the tophill in a large square where you can admire the colossal statue 23.40 meters high  with a pedestal of 11.70 meters for a total height of 35.10 meters erected between 1624 and 1698 by Siro Zanelli and Bernardo Falconi on a design by Giovanni Battista Crespi known as "Il Cerano", a colossus who is considered the venerated protector of the Major.

This work was due to the interest of St. Charles' cousin, Cardinal Federico Borromeo,  also known in literature as he was mentioned by Alessandro Manzoni in his masterpiece The Betrothed, and the Father of the Confraternity of Oblates Marco Aurelio Grattarola, both known for having been great admirers of St. Charles Borromeo.

Originally the statue was supposed to be in marble  to be inserted in a complex with 15 chapels, later there was a change of floors, only three chapels were made, two of which were unfinished and the statue was developed using copper and bronze plates.

The San Carlone is the second statue of this kind after the Statue of Liberty in New York and it is said that inspired the architect Bartholdi who made the project two centuries later of the gigantic American statue and executed by Gustave Eiffel.

The architect had as inspiration two iconic figures, The Colossus of Rhodes and the Colossus of St. Charles Borromeo, opting for the second by consulting often and at length the projects of the San Carlone,  studies that were undoubtedly of considerable support for the hesitant operation of raising that enormous elevated structure on the bay of the Hudson River.

You can linger on the huge granite pedestal where you will see the figure of the Saint with his right hand extended blessing and the codes of the Council of Trent  of which he was a fervent supporter under his left arm.

Behind the structure there is an iron staircase that allows the ascent to the panoramic balustraded terrace by entering the inside of the statue. Going up the metal stairs you can reach various positions in the head, nose, ears and eyes where there are windows, the ascent takes place in turns and is  not within everyone's reach. In any case, everyone can reach the panoramic terrace to enjoy unforgettable views of Lake Maggiore, the Verbano Prealps and the Alpine peaks that mark the border with Switzerland.

In the square outside the space with the huge statue is the Episcopal Seminary of San Carlo  built in 1907 by the architect Richini who was the executor of the project of the Church of San Carlo where inside on the altar was placed an image of the Saint attributed to Cesare Procaccini.

The visit of the colossus of San Carlo Borromeo is fascinating, the imposing statue that lasted several years that inspired other works, the views from above of the magnificent Lake Maggiore are certainly excellent ingredients for experiencing a pleasant day of tourism.

Link : https://www.statuasancarlo.it/