La Candelaria

La Candelaria is the historic heart and colonial soul of Bogotá, serving as the site where the city was founded in 1538. The neighborhood is renowned for its beautifully preserved Spanish colonial architecture, featuring animated houses with clay-tile roofs, wrought-iron balconies, and hidden internal patios. At its center lies the Plaza de Bolívar, the political nucleus of Colombia, surrounded by the Primatial Cathedral, the Palace of Justice, and the National Capitol. This district is a cultural powerhouse, home to world-class institutions such as the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) and the Botero Museum. Walking through its steep, cobblestone streets, visitors encounter centuries of history reflected in religious sites like the San Francisco Church and the namesake La Candelaria Church. Today, the area is a bohemian hub filled with universities, libraries, theaters, and a burgeoning street art scene that depicts Colombia's complex social history. Declared a National Monument in 1963, La Candelaria remains a vital link to the country’s colonial past and its revolutionary journey toward independence.

Nearby cities

Soacha

Large suburb of Bogotá with rich indigenous history.

Facatativá

Agricultural and industrial city near Bogotá.

Zipaquirá

Historic city world-famous for its underground salt cathedral.

Chía

Northern suburb of Bogotá, known as the city of the moon.

Girardot

A bustling riverside resort city that serves as a popular warm-weather weekend getaway for Bogotá residents.

Guatavita

Guatavita is a charming Colombian town known for its striking white-washed colonial architecture and its proximity to the sacred Lake Gua…

History & landmarks

Ráquira

Colombia's pottery capital, a vibrant and colorful town known for its traditional clay craftsmanship.

Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá

The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is an underground Roman Catholic church built within the tunnels of a salt mine.

Nature

Lake Guatavita

A nearly circular crater lake, widely considered the origin of the El Dorado legend.

More places

Church of San Francisco (Bogotá)

The oldest surviving church in Bogotá, known for its spectacular 17th-century wood-carved altar.

Museum of Independence - Casa del Florero

The historical house in Bogotá where a dispute over a flower vase on July 20, 1810, sparked the independence movement.

Primary Cathedral of Colombia

A neoclassical cathedral on the Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá, the largest in the country.

Capitolio Nacional

The seat of the Colombian Congress, a magnificent neoclassical building located on the Plaza de Bolívar.

Casa de Nariño

The official home of the President of Colombia, named after independence leader Antonio Nariño.

La Sabana Railway Station

The historical main railway station of Bogotá, a national monument of early 20th-century architecture.

Parque Jaime Duque

A family theme park near Bogotá featuring replicas of world wonders and a zoo.

Bavaria Brewery Tocancipá

One of the largest and most modern breweries in Latin America, producing the most famous Colombian beer brands.