Pasto Overview

Overview

Pasto is the capital of the Narino department, in the south of Colombia. For centuries it has been an important religious and cultural centre and in town you will find a number of richly decorated colonial churches, the most notable being the Iglesia de Cristo Rey and the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista. The city also has a small but good Museo de Oro with gold and pottery from the area. In the beginning of January the Carnaval de Blancos y Negros is held. On these days the city goes wild! It's a cool time to be in Pasto but do not wear your newest clothes. Pasto is a city where different cultures are mixed. The dominant one, without a doubt, is the Andean culture. Unequivocal evidence of this is the Carnival of Blacks and Whites, in which pastusos celebrate with colors and joy the incredible richness of their culture . The city is located in the Atriz Valley, at the foot of the Galeras Volcano, which can be observed from any angle of the city. Pasto is a very religious city, with beatiful temples that certainly represent the architectural wealth of the city. Some of them are very ancient and have been mixed with the modern and colonial styles symoultaneously. Artcrafts are an important tradition in Pasto, from which the so-called Pasto varnish is the most well-known. Leather, ceramics, and wooden products also consitute the historical and cultural legacy of the city.