COLOMBIA
Talking about the La Candelaria neighborhood means talking about the history of Bogotá. It was the place where the city was founded in 1538, and it owes its name to a Catholic chapel built in honor of the Virgen de la Candelaria.
These steep, cobblestone streets, which seem to stretch all the way to the sky, have witnessed the country’s history. Long before Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada founded this city in a valley of fortresses and built twelve small huts in the Chorro de Quevedo, it was a sacred place for the Muiscas.
The best way to explore La Candelaria is on foot, to appreciate its architecture. Behind its 19th-century eaves and colonial balconies lie the ghosts of the viceroys who once lived in its courtyards and hallways.
A large part of its buildings—many in colonial and republican styles—has been preserved and declared to be of historical and cultural interest. In this area of the historic center of Bogotá, there are around 500 institutions or artistic groups, museums and research centers, as well as theaters, libraries, and universities.
Today, these large houses are theater halls (La Candelaria, Seki Sano, El Tecal, García Márquez, etc.) and museums (Kolonialmuseum, Museo del Florero, Casa de la Moneda, Quinta de Bolívar, Militärmuseum, etc.), or they have given way to modern university buildings (La Salle, Externado, Andes, etc.) and to the continent’s most visited library, the Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango.
This blend of the old and the modern is not only evident in the architecture but also in the life that fills this area. In its streets, artists, students, and visitors from around the world cross paths with the original residents of some of these houses.
Without a doubt, our first recommendation is to immerse yourself in the cultural world this neighborhood has to offer. Among the most emblematic museums is the Botero, which not only displays over a hundred works by Maestro Fernando Botero but also paintings by world-renowned artists such as Renoir, Monet, Degas, Picasso, and Miró, to name a few. This collection was donated by the Antioquian painter, and admission is free.
The Luis Ángel Arango library, in addition to its two million volumes, has an art collection where works by Colombian, Latin American, and European artists have been exhibited since the late 1950s.
The list of museums is very extensive; however, we also recommend some that recount the history of Colombia, such as the Casa del Florero, the Museo de Arte Colonial, and the Museo de Bogotá.
Also, be sure to visit the modern Centro Cultural Gabriel García Márquez, designed by the renowned architect Rogelio Salmona. Enjoy a cup of coffee, discover the art exhibitions, or browse the bookstore of the Mexican publisher Fondo de Cultura Económica.
The Teatro Colón is another of the most impressive buildings in this area. Built in the neoclassical style, it is a national monument. Check out its program to attend a concert where both the architecture and the quality of the performers will captivate you.
True to Spanish tradition, this area has numerous churches and chapels of high architectural value. Naturally, we start with the one that gave the neighborhood its name: the Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. Built at the end of the 17th century, it still preserves some of the colonial construction techniques.
Heading west, at the Plaza de Bolívar, stand side by side the Catedral Primada de Bogotá and the Capilla del Sagrario. Although the former is impressive in size and a must-visit for travelers, the latter holds important treasures of colonial art, such as the collection of works by the colonial painter Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ceballos.
You might move a bit away from La Candelaria and visit the Santa Clara church, which houses the museum of the same name. You won’t regret it after seeing different examples of baroque art from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The culinary history of Bogotá is clearly reflected in the historic center. While many modern and cosmopolitan restaurants have emerged, we recommend visiting traditional establishments. “La Puerta Falsa” is the oldest restaurant in the city, with over two hundred years of history. There you will find the main dishes of the capital’s cuisine, such as tamales, ajiacos, desserts, and of course hot chocolate in the santafereña style.
In addition to this historic institution, we recommend other restaurants such as the traditional “Casa Vieja,” La Scala, and Origen Bistró.
The offer has grown so much that the Festival y Congreso Gastronómico “Sabor Candelaria” is held annually to pay tribute to the city’s traditions and ancestral dishes. Besides discovering new places, this festival includes coffee and wine tastings, discussion panels, and workshops with the city’s top chefs.
La Candelaria may be the smallest locality of Bogotá, but it offers the widest cultural range, felt in every one of its cobblestone streets—there you will surely find a surprise that makes you fall even more in love with our city.
Each of the country's regions offers a different rhythm so you can do what you like most. With adventure tourism, numerous cultural activities and excellent gastronomy, we have everything to make your trip an unforgettable experience.