en.infoglobe.cz » Colombia: Bogota - the capital of the country

Colombia: Bogota - the capital of the country

Published: 30.6.2023
Bogota is the capital and Colombia's largest city. The country is diverse, multicultural, and one can even say that you will experience sort of time travel there. The latter happens when you leave the district of high skyscrapers and walk into La Candelaria district with its colonial architecture.

We leave the town of Tunja for the capital. We don't want to go there much. But we plan to walk through the colonnial city and go away. On our way to Bogota, we manage to taste local arepa. It is quite different from the one we had in Cartageně. This one is sweet, like Czech pancakes. Moreover, we learn that Škoda car is called here "a Mercedes for the poor".

Bogota

We move to La Candelaria district once we reach Bogota. Most buildings were built in the colonnial style or republic style. Most of them were declared historical or cultural landmarks. The most well preserved part of the district is to be found between the streets CAlle 9 and 13 and Carrera 2 and 5.

La Candelaria

Some houses are 470 old bamboo rooftops, and walls made of pigskin. There are over 500 organization, and art groups, museums, research centers, libraries, and universities. There are many hostels so most visitors go here. We visit couple of hostels but the prices are too high. The same goes for staff. In Colombia drogs are too cheap, cocain especially. Many travellers go there to enjoy cheap drugs. We take a look at the yellow church La Candelaria and then we leave this district.

 La Candelaria La Candelaria

Bogota's dominant colors are green and red, at least they say it. Green is the color of city parks and the mountains. You can see there Cerro de Monserrate, and Cerro de Guadalupe. The color red constitutes of many brick buildings. First, we go towards the main square called Plaza de Bolívar. It is Sunday. The city is full of people, and street artists. We There is so much to see. Dancers, musicians, entertainers, guinea pigs racing on which people bet. Street theater, a military parade at the palace... We simply don't know where to go first. Well, its sunday in the capital. People are off work so they want to have fun.

Plaza de Bolívar

Plaza de Bolívar is the heart of the historic center. Before, this place was a public circus and a bull market. Today, cultural and social  events take there place as well. oreover, there is teh Congress - in a classical Greek style building (Capitolo Nacional). Opposite to the Congress there is Palacio de Justicia. Catedral Primada was completed in 1823. It is Bogota's largest temple. The only colonnial style building here is Capilla del Sagrario situated next to the temple. We sat for a while on the stairs to see it better for ourselves. A minute later, a beggar comes to us. For the third time, we rather stood up and walked away. There are many homeless in Bogota. Often we see some laying in the streets. Further out of the city center there is the park Third Milennium to which we walk into. And how surprised we get of how many homeless there are. They gather into groups so we rather walk away from the park. In Bogota, it seems better to stay inside the historic center.

Catedral Primada

Its Sunday. This means the entrance to many museums is for free. First, we visit Museo Histórico Policía. There is quite a curiosity to see, Pablo Escobar's harley, or his jacket he was wearing when he was shot. Then we move to  Museo del Oro. There are over 13 thousand gold and 20 thousand clay jugs. These were made by all important pre-Hispanic cultures in Colombia. Galerie Museo Botero holds over 208 works. It was founded by the most famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero. The gallery holds 123 items by Botero, and 85 items by other artists.  Muzeum Casa focuses on history of periodicals. However, we are quite tired to go there. There is a lot to do in respect to culture and history in Bogota. We walk through sevreal streets, and see Iglesia San Francisco church. It was completed in 1611 making it the oldest church in Colombia.

Bogota  

Simply put, Bogota is a city of extremes. Historic buildings vs modern skyscrapers. Local culture vs cosmopolitan culture. This can be a great place to start your trip to explore the past, taste local food, and enjoy the culture. Once you get tired of the big city as we did, leave for more tranquil place. Like Salento. This is exactly we are going to after Bogota.

Bogota

GPS: 4°42'35.1"N 74°04'21.2"W

Text and photos: Tomáš Novák



Discussion at the article (0)


Related Articles

Colombia: from Medellin to Cartagena across Santa Fe
Published: 19.5.2023
Beautiful and preserved colonial town. Temperatures are nice - around 25 °C. This makes this area great for walks in paved streets lined with white houses with their colorful window shutters and doors.

Colombia: Cartagena - a city by the Caribbean Sea
Published: 26.5.2023
It has been a UNESCO area since 1984 Its historical center with paved sidewalks, flowers on balcons, colonial, republican or modern buildings - this all is hidden behind 11 kilometers of preserved ramparts built by the Spaniards.

Colombia: ancient Santa Marta
Published: 2.6.2023
We reach Santa Marta on a bus. We enjoy the scenery around us. There are many poor houses and villages. and interesting coastline. It is quite strange that you then reach a beautiful colonial city, a popular sea resort of the Colombians.

Colombia: Tunja, and Villa de Leyva
Published: 23.6.2023
Tunja is a well preserved colonnial town founded by Gonzales Suárez Rendón in 1539. We were surprised how cold it was there. Well, no wonder. We are at 2820 meters above sea level!

Colombia: Salento - between the mountains
Published: 7.7.2023
A city in the mountains, palm trees, coffee plantations, well-preserved houses and their colorful balconies and flowers - this is Salento. A paradise frozen in time.

Colombia: Cali - city of salsa
Published: 14.7.2023
Over seven thousand professional salsa dancers, many dance schools, bars, and salsa clubs - this all is Cali, or Santiago de Cali as it full name sounds. It is the city of salsa. Salsa is not just entertainment here. It is the way of life of the Caleños, the local dwellers.

Panama, Ciudad de Panamá – The City and the Panama Canal
Published: 3.7.2021
Panama is a relatively bland country that lies in the shadow of Costa Rica's increasingly touristy tourist destination, with the infamous Colombia on its other side. Nevertheless, a large number of flights to Central America are conducted through Tocumen International Airport, which is located 24 kilometers from the capital city of Panama. And because there are good land and air links between Central American states, there are more to visit in one trip. They accept classic US dollars everywhere (although with a worse exchange rate), so there is no need to exchange money and the Panamanian Balboa has the same exchange rate.

Colombia: San Gil and Barichara
Published: 16.6.2023
The town of San Gil was founded in 1705. It is one of the most important places for sports in Colombia. There are many agencies focusing on adrenaline activities, however, you can have more tranquil of a stay in this town.

Colombia: San Juan de Girón
Published: 9.6.2023
San Juan de Girón was founded by Francisco Mantilla in 1631. The historic center was declared a cultural landmark which helped it to be preserved. Therefore we can admire beautiful paved streets and houses with lime facade.


Related Photogallery

Colombia: A Drug Land Turned Tourist Paradise
Increasing number of travelers aim for Latin America. Today, we visit Colombia, a country of rela...

Place

Czech republic

Partners:

We were awarded the certificate even thanks to you!

Dôveryhodná firma 2017

 

Guide:

Important Information:

Information and warnings on travelling abroad is to be found HERE.

Mobile application:

aplikácia Infoglobe

stiahnuť zadarmo pre Androidstiahnuť zadarmo pre iPhone

 

 

Today:friday 29. 3. 2024
Holiday:Taťána
Today:
friday 29.3.
6 °C
Tomorrow:
saturday 30.3.
11 °C

TIP: INFOGLOBE app is available for your device, download HERE.

X

TIP: INFOGLOBE app is available for your device, download HERE.

X