Bogota
The morning sun illuminates a city that nestles on a highland plain beneath the Andes mountains; Bogota is a city of warm and hospitable people where visitors can go to see its splendid historical sector and at the same time enjoy a modern city with a pleasant climate — its mean temperature is 14ºC, although on sunny days it can rise to 22ºC.
The city’s administration has responded to the needs for recreation, culture, efficient transport system and contact with nature by integrating public spaces into the cityscape, for its 7 million plus inhabitants.
The city’s modern advances and developments have awakened in its inhabitants a civic sense and appreciation of their city. Amongst these we have, the Transmilenio — a modern and efficient mass transit system; a network of broad avenues that connect the different sectors of the city; tree-lined bicycle routes; parks for recreation and relaxation; public spaces for culture and education, including the largest network of libraries in South America; specialized museums such as the Children’s Museum; fairs such as the Arts & Crafts and Book Fairs; places for learning such as Maloka Museum, an interactive centre of science and technology, unique in Colombia and the best in South America.
Founded in 1538 by Don Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, Bogota preserves important architectural treasures of the Colonial and Republican periods, which you can admire by visiting the Historical Centre of the barrio of La Candelaria and the government buildings in the city centre, where old mansions that have been turned into museums and churches interweave with palaces and majestic squares.
There are more than fifty museums in the city, notably the Gold Museum that houses the largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold in the world, and the National Museum whose collections are among the best in the country; the Marqués de San Jorge Archeological Museum, the Colonial and Religious Art museums, the churches of Santa Clara and San Ignacio, which house jewels of the colonial period, the Money House where paintings by some of the most important painters in the world are on display, these were donated to the city by Colombian master artist Fernando Botero, there is also an important exhibition of this artist’s work.
The capital also has numerous shopping malls where you can purchase fashionable clothes, leather goods, jewelry and handicrafts. The city’s hotels rival world-class cities and its nightlife is vibrant and varied. To make your visit to Bogota unforgettable, you should visit the rural landscapes around and about the city and quaint villages that preserve their colonial and indigenous past.
(Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria - Colonial district of Bogota)
Bogota – All Colombia in One City
Today Bogotá is a modern, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic city entirely up to date in world trends in art, fashion, science, and technology. It offers all the services and comforts of modern life without having lost many customs from colonial times, which continue to be preserved in traditional neighborhoods.
Strolling on the streets of Bogotá while observing the hustle and bustle, its street vendors and shops and its rhythmic vibrations can be as interesting as visiting its churches and colonial museums. The city also offers theatre and classical music, discos with the best musical styles, and a wide range of gastronomy.
Visits You Can Not Miss
- The Gold Museum
- The Peak and the Sanctuary of Monserrate.
- The Historic Centre, represented by La Candelaria neighborhood and the Bolívar Plaza
- The International Centre
- The Salt Cathedral in the town of Zipaquirá
(Auditorium at Salt Cathedral - Zipaquira, Bogota)
Ibero-American Theatre Festival of Bogota
Actors from thirty countries meet in Bogotá every two years for seventeen days to perform the best of their repertoires. Numerous parades fill the city with colorful street performances, marionettes and pantomimes.
Bogota, World Book Capital 2007:
23 April 2007 – 23 April 2008 www.bogota-dc.com
On June 17, 2005, in Paris, UNESCO declared Bogota World Book Capital for 2007. This distinction was given due to the commitment of the city to the challenge of achieving reading, writing, and access to books for its seven million plus inhabitants.
• Also, for its system of 102 public libraries
• An important publishing industry with over 294 houses and representation of the largest publishers of the Spanish language
• 619 book shops
• A growing number of active writers, known nationally and internationally
• The “Ciudad de Bogotá National Literature Prize”, which encourages the work of new Colombian writers
• Novel programs for fostering reading, such as Libro al Viento (book to the wind), a collection of works of classical literature that the City Government circulates free of charge
• And, finally, a growing network of public and private organizations whose purpose is to facilitate access to books and reading for all people
Bogota, Ibero-American Capital of Culture 2007
For the second time, the Union of Capital Cities of Ibero-America (UCCI, by its Spanish acronym) designated Bogota as the Ibero-American Capital of Culture for 2007.
