In the previous episode, I started talking about Bogota, my city, and I mentioned viewpoints, historical places and a tour of the city center. But today I’m going to talk about the best things to do in Bogotá, like museums and churches, so you can make the most of your visit. I will also give you the best recommendations so you can enjoy our typical food. So, let’s get started!
Most Beautiful Churches in Bogotá
Bogota is one of the oldest cities in Colombia. Its history is marked by Spanish colonization, and traces of this can still be seen in the architecture of the La Candelaria neighborhood. These vestiges of colonization are also reflected in one of the city’s great attractions: its churches. Colombia is a largely Catholic country, with about 60% of the population practicing this religion, and 20% following Christianity. Therefore, religion has been and continues to be of great importance in our history as a country. If you visit the city center, you will notice that there are many churches. The most famous are the Catedral Primada de Colombia, located in Plaza Bolivar, and the Iglesia del Señor de Monserrate, located at the top of Monserrate hill. However, there are four other churches in the city center that are worth visiting for their history and beauty.
St Agustín Church
The first church you should visit in Bogota is the Church of San Agustin. It was built in 1642 as a colonial building and houses the remains of a Colombian heroine, Policarpa Salavarrieta. Policarpa, also known as La Pola, was a spy who worked for the Creole independence forces during the Spanish Reconquest. Her story is very interesting, as she was a seamstress and worked in the homes of families who supported the king of Spain. While sewing, she listened to information about the royalist plans and then passed it on to her revolutionary friends. Today, she is considered one of the most important women in the history of Colombia. She was shot in 1817 and her memory lives on in the Church of San Agustin.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The second church I recommend visiting is the Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen. This imposing church is impressive both inside and out, and I’m sure its beauty will leave you in awe. Although it is of more recent construction, started in 1926, it follows a Gothic style. However, you will notice that this Gothic style is combined with Byzantine and Arabic influences. In addition, its colors are very particular, red and white, which correspond to the colors of the Carmelite order.
St. Francisco Church
The third church I recommend is the Church of San Francisco, built in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. This church, erected in 1557, is the oldest in the city. Inside you will find baroque decorations, richly ornamented with gold, that will amaze you and transport you to the time of colonization.
St. Clara Church
The last church I recommend is actually a museum, the Iglesia de Santa Clara. It was built in 1647 and is one of the most impressive colonial constructions in the city. The abundance of gold is explained by its baroque style, similar to that of the Church of San Francisco, and it is adorned with more than 100 paintings inside. This church is known for its exuberant decoration and is practically considered a museum. The entrance fee is 4,000 pesos, approximately 1 dollar, and in my opinion, it is well worth a visit.
Best Museums in Bogota
Well, now that we have talked about museums, I can start mentioning other museums you should visit in Bogota.
Gold Museum
The first, and in my opinion the most important, is the Gold Museum. This museum houses the largest collection of gold objects in the world. You will find a vast display of archaeological and ethnographic pieces representing pre-Hispanic cultures. These pieces are invaluable, not only for being made of the most precious metal in the world, but also for being a symbol of our identity as Colombians and a testimony of the indigenous cultures that inhabited the country. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the indigenous community known as the “Muiscas” lived in Bogota and created works of art with the gold they collected. When the Spaniards arrived, they took a lot of gold, but some indigenous people managed to hide their pieces in tombs and were saved from looting. The most famous piece in the museum is the Muisca Raft, which stands out both for its detail and for representing the legend of El Dorado, which led to numerous expeditions in search of gold. In a future episode I will talk more about this legend of the Dorado of Guatavita. For now, I leave you the link to the Gold Museum so you can check their opening hours, ticket prices and get more information about these valuable gold pieces.
Central Bank’s Cultural Block
My second museum recommendation is actually a double recommendation, as it is a place that houses several museums, and all of them are free! It is called the “Manzana Cultural del Banco de la República” and it has several museums of excellent quality in the same place. The two most outstanding museums in this cultural block are the Botero Museum and the Mint. Of these two, my favorite is the Botero Museum. Fernando Botero is a renowned Colombian artist known for his representations of people, animals and objects with voluminous figures. He is also famous for his large sculptures with chubby shapes. He is a very interesting artist, as he has created a unique artistic universe through his exaggerated proportions and represents this universe in his paintings and sculptures. In addition, Botero is passionate about art and has donated some of his works along with pieces by renowned artists such as Picasso and Matisse. In the description you will find the link to the Botero Museum and other museums located in the Cultural Block so you can check their schedules and exhibitions.
Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center
After visiting these museums, you can walk one block and find the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center. This museum has exhibition spaces, a bookstore and a café, so you can spend a pleasant time there. This place is dedicated to the Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, also known as Gabo, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Garcia Marquez’s books are really wonderful, and although his best known work is “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, he has many other outstanding works, such as “Love in the Time of Cholera”, “Of Love and Other Demons” and “La Hojarasca”, among others. Gabo was also excellent at writing short stories. All his work is impregnated with magical realism, a literary movement in which magic is presented as something normal or in which everyday things acquire a magical meaning. Visiting the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center is a way to honor his legacy, and even better if you buy one of his books and start reading it in the museum’s café.
La Quinta de Bolivar
The fourth and last museum that I recommend you is the Quinta de Bolivar. Simon Bolivar, as I mentioned in my previous episode, was the liberator of Colombia. This house was given to him as a gift after achieving independence for Colombia, and he first inhabited it in 1821. Five years later, the Quinta became his main residence when he assumed the presidency of the Republic. In addition, it was in this house where his love for Manuelita Sáenz was born. La Quinta witnessed important events in Bolivar’s life, such as the founding of Gran Colombia.
After visiting so many museums, you will surely be very hungry. The good thing is that you will be surrounded by places where you can enjoy delicious and affordable food. The first thing I would recommend is to have a good breakfast.
What to Get for Breakfast in Bogotá
Tinto and Arepa
In Colombia, breakfast is a very important meal and is generally eaten a lot. If you want to try a typical breakfast, you will find several cafes and bakeries in the city center. There are also street food stalls that often offer delicious dishes. A Colombian breakfast can consist of an arepa and a tinto. The arepa is a kind of bread or roll made of corn, which is grilled and can be filled with cheese. The tinto is a black coffee, but in Colombia we call it that.
Eggs and Bread
Another option for breakfast can be eggs and bread. One of my favorite bakeries is called Doña Blanca, and has been around since 1950. They always have fresh and delicious bread, which you can accompany with scrambled eggs and a chocolate with cheese, all for about two dollars.
Tamal
The other breakfast I recommend is the most abundant of all: the tamale. Tamales are made with corn dough and filled with vegetables and meat. One place where you can find good tamales is La Perseverancia. This place has a food court where you can enjoy typical food, delicious and at a good price. A tamale, for example, can cost you around a dollar, and it is so big that it will leave you with enough energy to explore the rest of the city! At La Perseverancia you can also come for lunch and find a wide variety of typical dishes from all over Colombia.
Best Places for Local Food in Bogotá
Now, another restaurant for lunch typical food can be La Puerta Falsa. Founded in 1816, it is the oldest restaurant in Colombia. Here you can try ajiaco, a typical dish of Bogota that consists of a soup made with three types of potatoes, chicken, guascas (aromatic herb) and corn on the cob. It is served with avocado. For dessert, you can try almojábanas, small sweet breads typical of Colombia, or the famous natas dessert. Two other restaurants where you can have typical food for lunch but with a more elaborate and fusion touch are “Prudencia” and “El Aquelarre”. In both places you will find a wide variety of elaborate dishes that transform and modernize the typical food, with a touch of magic and excellent service. Both are delicious, without a doubt.
To end the day with a special dinner, I recommend Andrés Carne de Res. This is probably the most famous restaurant in Colombia. It has two great locations, one in Chia and one in Bogota. I recommend going to the Chia location, as it is the original restaurant, it is much bigger than the one in Bogota and offers many things to see. However, if you prefer to go to the one in Bogota, you will also enjoy delicious food, have fun, be surprised with its decoration and dance the night away. Andres Carne de Res is known for the eccentricity of its decoration. Really, it is a place that can not be described with words alone, but I leave the link in the description so you can see the pictures. The creativity of the restaurant will leave you amazed, there is always music, actors, dancers and celebrations in the place. At night, this is one of the favorite party places for Colombians and you will find a lot of people there. The food is typical and delicious. You can try chicharrones, papas criollas, sancocho, bandeja paisa and more. Oh, and a tip, if you say you are not from Colombia, the restaurant will make you a special celebration, because in Colombia we always like to welcome guests. If you visit this place, you will have an unforgettable experience that summarizes the best of the country: good music, good food and good people.
