Bogota is the capital of Colombia and one of the largest cities in South America. It is situated at an altitude of 2600 m above sea level, surrounded by the Andes peaks. It is an important cultural and academic center, in the past called the Athens of South America. Numerous colonial monuments are also preserved here, and the city is also known for its fascinating museums.
The city was founded in the 16th century by Jiménez de Quesad on the site of a former Indian settlement. It quickly gained great commercial and administrative importance and became the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. At the beginning of the 19th century, the local population, led by Simon Bolivar, came out against the Spaniards and took over the government. The city then became the main center of the Federation of Great Colombia, and in 1863 the official capital of the Republic of Colombia.
Due to its colonial past, Bogota has many interesting monuments from the 16th to 19th centuries. Its heart is the vast Bolivar Square, with its monumental façade, the baroque cathedral of Bogota, the seat of the congress and the Palace of Justice. Around you can visit the colonial district with numerous public buildings and stylish tenement houses. While visiting this part of Bogota, it is worth visiting the historic churches, the San Francisco Church, the Church of St. Ignatius or the Church of the Conception.
Thanks to its rich past, Bogota boasts numerous museums, visiting which is an extraordinary journey through the history and culture of Colombia. The local museums, such as the Gold Museum with the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian gold products, the Colonial Museum, the National Museum of Colombia, the Interactive Maloka Museum, the Botero Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Museum of Independence are among the most important attractions of Bogota.
While visiting Bogota, you can find both neighborhoods with representative buildings and places where the local color is clearly visible. These include La Candelaria with its low, colorful houses, Chorro de Quevedo Square and the huge Paloquemao Market.
Two peaks tower over Bogota, Cerro de Monserrate and Guadalupe. Both of them contain important places of religious worship. On Monserratte, you can visit the Basilica and the Sanctuary of Señor de Monserrate with the graces of the famous figure of Christ crucified, and look at the area from the Norte viewpoint. You can climb the famous Via Monserrate or take the Taquilla Monserrate cable car to the top. In turn, on the second of the peaks there is the Virgen De Guadalupe Sanctuary dedicated to the Mother of God.
