In Popayán, a city internationally renowned for the solemnity of its Holy Week processions—recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—there is also a special corner outside the historic center where faith is lived with fervor, reverence, and deep community roots. This place is the Bello Horizonte neighborhood, located in the northern part of the Cauca capital, where this year marks four decades of a tradition born out of the people's needs, sustained over time by religious beliefs and strengthened by community bonds.

The processions, which today include 19 religious floats illuminated by the devotion of the faithful, began forty years ago with just three religious images. At a time when public transportation was scarce and reaching the historic sector in downtown Popayán was a real ordeal—requiring long walks or risky night journeys—a need emerged that, four decades later, has become part of the very history of Holy Week in our city. The residents of Bello Horizonte decided to create their own spiritual path as a response to the difficulties of reaching the center:
"The processions of Bello Horizonte emerged from the necessity, faith, and devotion of the faithful of the La Sagrada Familia Parish," recalls Albeiro Villaquirán Arcos, president of the Bello Horizonte Holy Week Committee.

Provided photo

The first processions took place even before they were formally established in the neighborhood, starting from the Señora de Las Mercedes Church in Alto Cauca, with one or two religious images—or even paintings—carried with the same reverence. Since then, each year, from Holy Wednesday to Holy Saturday, the streets of the neighborhood transform into sacred stages narrating, with solemnity, the final days of Jesus on His way to Calvary.

Over these 40 years, the tradition has grown and strengthened thanks to the community and the formal organization of the Bello Horizonte Holy Week Committee, established 25 years ago.
How has the process evolved? It has certainly faced economic, logistical, and organizational challenges. However, the community has found ways to sustain its mission and beautify each religious float with the support of brotherhoods, neighborhood families, youth, elders, and other allies. "We want to keep growing. We dream of more floats, of telling our story in a book, of having signage to help organize public spaces and traffic. But above all, we dream of preserving the solemnity, faith, and spirit that unite us every Holy Week," expressed Mr. Albeiro with great emotion.

Provided photo

In 2025, as part of the commemoration of their first 40 years, the community has carried out several activities highlighting the pride in this living tradition. Among these was an exhibition of five religious floats at Terra Plaza shopping center, bringing this tradition closer to new audiences. Additionally, from May 16 to 18, during the Jubilee Year when Pope Francis has dedicated these days to brotherhoods and confraternities worldwide, the Bello Horizonte community will hold a special celebration with Masses, exhibitions, and recognitions for those who have dedicated their lives to sustaining this manifestation of popular religiosity over the past four decades.

From the University of Cauca—an institution deeply committed to its territory and cultural diversity—this tradition has been supported for several years as part of its commitment to the communities surrounding the university. In the words of its Institutional Development Plan, it is about being a university that is supportive and engaged with its environment, capable of recognizing and supporting expressions of identity, spirituality, and community organization that enrich the social fabric of the department.
For this reason, we commemorate and honor the 40 years of this beautiful tradition.

Provided photo

Thus, the residents of the Bello Horizonte neighborhood are not only commemorating a date; they are celebrating four decades of spiritual resilience, collective love, hands that carry with devotion, and generations that have made faith a common language.
They celebrate, above all, that when a community chooses to walk together, it can transform hardships into altars and turn its streets into sacred stages.

The invitation is open: don't miss the opportunity to experience and discover this tradition, offering a unique perspective on what Holy Week means in Colombia’s White City!

 

Written by: Communications Management Center