We spent our first day in Bogota sightseeing in La Candelaria - the old part of town. Our hotel, Casa Real, was located in a neighborhood north of the city center called Parque 93. This part of Bogota is considered safer and it's full of nice restaurants and cafes. We highly recommend this hotel for its location, delicious breakfast and large rooms that come with a kitchenette, living room and massive bathroom. Bogota has a pretty efficient bus system called Transmilenio that got us to La Candelaria in 30 minutes.
We first stopped in Bolivar Square to see the primary cathedral of Bogota, the nation's Capital Building and the Justice Palace. It is named for Simon Bolivar, who is considered to be the most influential leader during Latin America's fight for independence from Spain.
We first stopped in Bolivar Square to see the primary cathedral of Bogota, the nation's Capital Building and the Justice Palace. It is named for Simon Bolivar, who is considered to be the most influential leader during Latin America's fight for independence from Spain.
Plaza Bolivar
We spent most of the day visiting museums. Our first stop was the Botero Museum. Botero is one of Colombia's most famous artists, known for his rotund sculptures and paintings. He is still alive today, and built this museum to showcase his artwork, as well as his private collection which includes pieces from Picasso, Chagall, Degas, Dali, Miro, Renoir and many others. Can you imagine if this was your private collection?! I was thrilled. The cherry on top is that the museum is free to locals and tourists alike!
Botero's hand sculpture. Sorry the pictures are blurry but we were using our old camera without the flash (no flash allowed).
Boteros' Mona Lisa
Chagall
If you'd like to see more of the collection, check out The Google Art Project's page for the Botero Museum.
The Botero museum is connected to two other museums - the Casa de Moneda (Money House) and the Museo de Arte Banco de la Republica. The former is all about the history of money in Latin America. The building was built in the early 1600's and was the first mint in what was then called the New Kingdom of Granada. The museum features coins from many eras as well as the machinery used to develop the coins. They also had a replica of a map from shortly after the Americas were discovered. Very interesting!
The Botero museum is connected to two other museums - the Casa de Moneda (Money House) and the Museo de Arte Banco de la Republica. The former is all about the history of money in Latin America. The building was built in the early 1600's and was the first mint in what was then called the New Kingdom of Granada. The museum features coins from many eras as well as the machinery used to develop the coins. They also had a replica of a map from shortly after the Americas were discovered. Very interesting!
The Museo de Arte Banco de la Republica had two interesting collections of modern art - Urban Mutants and The Forgotten. One was about this tumultuous history of Peru and the other was a collection of photographs from all over Latin America. My favorite was Vicky Ospina's La Gallada.
After these museums we hit up the Juan Valdez cafe for a cup of the famous Colombian coffee. Then we walked around la Candelaria a bit.
After these museums we hit up the Juan Valdez cafe for a cup of the famous Colombian coffee. Then we walked around la Candelaria a bit.
Juan Valdez Coffee
Beautiful school located across from the capitol building.
Iglesia de Lourdes
After walking around a bit, we went to the Museo de Oro or Gold Museum which happend to be free because it was Sunday. This museum has the biggest collection of pre-hispanic gold in the world. It's impressive!
We headed back to Parque 93 on the Transmilenio around 5pm and then went out to a great restaurant called Central Cevicheria for what else...ceviche!
We headed back to Parque 93 on the Transmilenio around 5pm and then went out to a great restaurant called Central Cevicheria for what else...ceviche!
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