Plaza de Bolivar

The usual place to start discovering Bogota is Plaza de Bolivar, the heart of the original town and very close to barrio La Candelaria.  In the middle of the square is a bronze statue of Simon Bolivar (cast in 1846).  This was the first public monument erected in the city.  None of the buildings in the square are open to the public.  Bogota is Colombia's capital and similar to Washington, D.C. in the States.  Consider Plaza de Bolivar being similar to the National Mall in Washington, D.C.  The Washington Monument in the U.S. is the bronze statue of Simon Bolivar in Colombia.  The plaza is surrounded by many different architectural styles.

Simon Bolivar (July 24, 1783 - December 17, 1830) is regarded in Hispanic America as a hero, visionary, revolutionary, and liberator.  During his lifetime, he led Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela to independence, and helped lay the foundations for democratic ideology in much of Hispanic America.  He died December 17, 1830 of tuberculosis.  However in July, 2010 his remains have been exhumed to investigate a possible cause of arsenic poisoning and murder.

Plaza de Bolivar

Bronze statue of Simon Bolivar cast in 1846, sits in the center of the plaza.

Matt and Alissa standing in front of Catedral Primada which stands on the east side of the plaza and at the site which the first mass was celebrated after Bogota had been founded in 1538.  The church where it took place was a small thatched chapel.  A more substantial building was erected in 1565, but collapsed due to a poor foundation.  In 1572 a 3rd church was constructed, but collapsed in 1785 due to an earthquake.  In 1807, the existing church was constructed in Spanish-style and completed in 1823.  Today it's Bogota's largest church.

The smaller church in the background is located next to Catedral Primada, on the east side of the plaza, and was built in the second half of the 17th century.  It is also Spanish-style architecture. 

On the whole western side of the plaza is French-style architecture.  The building was constructed between 1902-1905 and is home to the mayor's office.

On the northern side of the plaza sits the modern-style Palacio de Justicia.  This is a massive building serving as the seat of the Supreme Court.  The Palacio of Justicia has had a tragic history.  The first court building built in 1921 was burnt down by a mob in 1948.  A second court was constructed, but in 1985 was taken by M-19 guerrillas and gutted by fire in a fierce 28-hour battle.  The existing building was designed in a completely different style. 

The southern side of the plaza stands a monumental stone building called the Capitolio Nacional which is the seat of Congress.  It is English-style architecture.  The building was started in 1847, but not finished until 1926 due to many political uprisings. 

Behind the Capitolio Nacional sits the Casa de Narino, which was the home of presidents from 1908.  In 1948 it was attacked and President Gaitan was assassinated. It was restored in 1979. 

Between the Capitolio and Casa are spacious formal grounds where the change of presidential guard takes place at 5pm four days a week.  These grounds also contain the first astronomical observatory built on the continent.  It was constructed in 1803. 

The Casa is heavily guarded.

A girl sits and feeds pigeons in Plaza de Bolivar.

Just outside the plaza stands the oldest public school in Bogota.  It has been in service since 1604.

Outside the plaza contains beautiful architecture with Spanish, French, and English influences. 

Outside the plaza contains a building where Bolivar was staying.  He escaped an assassination by climbing out of this window.  His long time lover helped him escape.