A combination of colonial charm, elements of ancient history, traditional cooking (Popayán is a designated UNESCO City of Gastronomy) and a lively café and bar culture catering to the students of Cauca University make for a welcoming atmosphere in this small town. Among the treasures of Popayán – which has been dubbed ‘La Ciudad Blanco’ or the ‘White City’ for its many chalk-white facades – are the regal Catedral Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción; El Morro de Tulcan, a lookout point built on the ruins of an ancient pyramid; the popular Caldas Park; the Humanities Faculty of the University of Cauca; the Clock Tower and the Natural History Museum, with its collection of regional artefacts.