TOURISTY ATTRACTIONS IN BOGOTA

Monserrate

The hills of Bogotá are very interesting places to visit for those who love highness. Monserrate is one of these hills.  It is possible to access to it by walking or by using the aerial tramway. The three ways to arrive part from100 meters of Quinta de Bolivar. It is advisable that people don’t arrive by car, because the car parks are expensive, it is easy to arrive in public transportation.

On the top of the hill, there is a beautiful panoramic view of the city.  It is a very romantic place. It is 3.130 meters over sea level, has a sanctuary for peregrination, many faithful go there. One of the peculiar characteristics is the sanctuary of Señor Caido of Monserrate, one of the places where Christ is not nailed on the cross; he is walking towards the cross.

Celestino Mutis Botanic Garden

It is an important study center for environmental education and research, comprehends 20 hectares and it is covered by forests which contain different species of trees.

The garden presents more than 2000 species of plants.  It organizes educational services and cultural events like walks, conferences, guided visits, children workshops, and so on. It has 19 hectares covered with forests of conifers, oaks, orchid’s collections and greenhouses with plants that belong to rainy, dry, and warm climates. It is also possible to see lakes, waterfalls and beautiful landscapes.

La Candelaria

La Candelaria is considered the cultural and historic hearth of the city, because is one of the best preserved centers in Latin America; that’s the reason because many artists, writers, and academics come there. The visitors observe enjoying the colonial architecture richness, mainly the colonial houses with grilled windows, red roofs and carved large doors. It is the perfect place to take photos.

It is the ten seventh locality of Bogotá, placed to the east. La Candelaria is an important commercial, cultural and university center, besides it is the center of power of Colombia. In La Candelaria, the main square known as Bolivar Square is the foundation place. Surroundings are:

• National Capitol, seat of the Congress of the Republic of  Colombia.
• Lawcourts
• Liévano Palace
• Chapel of  Sagrario.
• Nariño´s House
• San Carlos Palace

And also important museums as:

• 20 de Julio’s House
• Mint House and Botero Museum
• Luis Ángel Arango Library

Among the most important churches of La Candelaria are:

• Primada Catedral of Bogotá
• Nuestra Señora del Carmen Church
• San Ignacio Church
• San Agustín Church
• Santa Bárbara Church

Other places to visit are:

• La Candelaria Theater
• Open Air Theater of Bogotá
• Colon Theater
• Rufino Cuervo Square

Maloka

It is the first Interactive Center of Science and Technology of Colombia. It is 17.000 m² long, 10.000 of them are eight meters deep. It has 10 exhibition rooms that have 350 interactive modules, in different rooms. They invite people to play learning about the city, the world, the telecommunications, the human being and more.

The Domo cinema, the biggest in Latin America and the first one in South America is on e of its characteristic. It has more than 7 subterranean thematic exhibitions. The mediateka is a place where visitors interact with means, has also café and restaurant.

Catedral de Sal en Zipaquirá (cathedral)

It is an important touristy place for people who visit Bogotá. It is located 49 Km from Bogotá north, was carved into the Zipaquirá mountains, an important salt exploitation place.

The salt mines have cultural and historic value, because were exploited by Muiscas before conquerors arrival. Nowadays, there is a new cathedral that was built in 1995 for replacing the former construction that was closed because of structural problems.

The cathedral is considered architectonic jewel of the modernity, is also religious place and one of the most well-known places of Colombia. The cathedral structure is divided in three main sectors: The Way of the Cross, the dome, the ramp for going down, the balconies and finally the central naves.

The Way of the Cross is composed by small chapels, carved in salt; most of them have holes that lead to dome, 11 meters long, then to the ramp for going down and to the central naves.

Inside the park, visitors can see not only the delicacy art and the roughness of miner exploitation, but also learn about geology, the natural resources, etc. The most important places are. The square where is the Cross, The Domo Alto, La Mina (mine), the Salmuera Museum ( it was built with tanks).

Parks

Bogotá has several parks, where it is possible to practice different activities like walking, cycling, running, etc.  The main parks are: The National Park, a place with entertainment spaces; The Metropolitan Park Simon Bolivar, a park that offers paths for running, an amazing lake with boats, and other locations; The Park of The Independence, a park that has beautiful prairies and a little stage.