Bogotá Sights: La Candelaria

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View of La Candelaria, with central Bogotá in the background

Home of author Jose Vargas Vila

Many landmark events in the history of Colombian and South American independence took place in the La Candelaria, district including the near killing and escape of Simon Bolivar, the execution of revolutionary heroine Policarpa Salavarrieta, known as 'La Pola,' and the Grito de Libertad, known as the beginning of the region's revolution. And the district is indeed teeming with history, and there are a lot of interesting museums and old churches in what is the oldest Bogotá neighborhood. Some streets are reserved to pedestrians. The most important places are La Catedral, Plaza de Bolivar, Palacio de Nariño, Iglesia del Carmen, Biblioteca Luis A Arango (blaa), the Colonial Art Museum and the old architecture of the houses and buildings, almost all of the museums charge no admission. La Candelaria also contains numerous Catholic Churches, many of them centuries-old. The Colombian-American and Colombian-French cultural centers are located in La Candelaria, and a Colombian-Spanish cultural center is under construction.

• Casa de Moneda, Calle 11 No. 4-21 (Next to Museo Botero), ☎ 343-1223. M-F : 10 am to 8 pm , Tu : closed / Sa : 10 am to 7 pm / Su : 10 am to 4 pm. Has a collection of Colombian coins and the history of moneymaking. Free entrance.

• Cultural Heritage Museum.

• Donación Botero, Calle 11 No. 4-41, ☎ ''+57 1'' 343-1331. W-Fr 10AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-7PM and Su 10AM-4PM. Collection of paintings donated by Botero to Bogota. Besides work of Botero the collection contains work from Picasso, Renoir, Monet, Dali and others. Free entrance.

• Gold Museum (El Museo del Oro), Calle 16 No. 5-41 (On one side of the Parque Santander), ☎ ''+57 1'' 284-7450 (fax: ''+57 1'' 343-2222), www.banrep.gov.co/museo/eng. Tu-Sa : 9 to 6 / Su : 10 to 4. Impressive collection of gold and pre-Colombian artifacts from Colombia and surrounding nations. Don't miss this museum. The Gold Museum is unique and you won't find a better place to see the pre-Spanish artwork on gold. La Casa del Florero was the site of an 1810 protest by Colombians considered to be the initiation of the revolt against Spain. The Botero Museum contains both works by Fernando Botero, Colombia's most famous artist, and the contents of his private collection, including works by Picasso, Renoir, Dali and others. The museum was under renovation, up until October 2008 and as of then its open to the public once more so don't miss it out. 2,800 COP.

• Banco de la Republica Art Collection (Museo Botero), Calle 11 No. 4-41. Tue to Sat:10AM-7PM, Sun and holidays 10AM-4PM Closed on Mon, including holiday Mondays. Exhibits Permanent Banco de la República Art Collection consisting of nearly 3,000 paintings, sculptures and assembly of Colombian and Latin American masters from the XVI century to our days. Visitors may appreciate a selection of Colombian painters works, for instance Gregorio Vázquez de Arce y Ceballos, the most important Colony painter, Alejandro Obregón, Enrique Grau, Latin American as Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueiros and many other globally renowned.

Catedral Primada

• Museum of Colonial Art, Carrera 6 No. 9-77, ☎ 341 6017 (colonial@mincultura.gov.co). Tu-Sa 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. / Su from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. Under Eduardo Santos administration on August 6, 1942 the Colonial Museum containing Viceroy-ship art, silver plates, the Virgin of the Light and the most characteristic Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ceballos collection, among other valuable Colombian culture treasures opened its doors. Declared National Monument National in 1975, Las Aulas Cloister is one of the oldest buildings in Bogotá.

• Museum Francisco José de Caldas, Carrera 8 #6-87, ☎ 289-6275 (museocaldas@yahoo.com). M-F : 8am to 5pm / Sa : 8am to 2pm. Centered around the life of the revolution martyr. Showcases his mapping expedition of Colombia and how he contributed to the revolution by building a fort and a riffle factory in Antioquia. Free entrance.

• Museum of Regional Costumes.

• Museum of Religious Art.

• National Police Historical Museum, Calle 9 No. 9-27, ☎ 233 5911 – 281 3284. Mo-Fr : 8 am to 12pm and 1 pm to 5 pm / Sa : 8 am to 2 pm. Its main interest resides in the rooms dedicated to the hunt of Pablo Escobar. Guided tours in Spanish and English. Free entrance.

• www.banrep.gov.co/museo/eng