| Page Views: 619 Last Visit to Bogotá: February, 2008 | Bogota - the Capital by elsadran - last update: Jun 30, 2008 |
| Bogota - Iglesia de la Candelaria |
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|  | Bogota was founded in 1538 and it has always played an important role as a capital. But it has expanded greatly after the industrialization in 1940. Then a great number of people came from the countryside and the city has come to a population of 7 million people. It has a diversified and vibrant artistic and cultural life. It is a bizarre mixture of extreme poverty and great prosperity and of romantic colonial architecture and futuristic constructions. It attracts intellectuals and artists as well as thieves, drug dealers and street vendors.
Its name comes from the word 'Bacata' which means 'planted fields' in the language of the Muiscas.
Its citizens revolted against the Spanish 'conquistadores' in 1811 but it was finally Simon Bolivar who gave it its independence in 1819, fulfilling thus his great dream of uniting Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and Panama in one country! Bogota was the first capital of Gran Colombia. Some years later in 1830 Gran Colombia dissolved into three countries and the country remained under the name of New Granada and later as Colombia..
It can not be described as a beautiful city but it has some extraordinary features as splendid churches, interesting museums and lovely restored houses in the old part called Candelaria. The most imposing features are the mountain ranges to the east with the two peaks of Monserrate and Guadelupe dominating the views on that side. |
| | Although it is trying to get rid of its notorious past as an unsafe place and it has indeed acquired a more serene face, it is still dangerous especially at night and in the poor neighbours.
The northern part of the city is modern and the most up-market residential area, while the south is inhabited by low-incomers. The western part is more industrialised.
The dry season is from December to March with a small interval also during July and August. There are enough sights, buildings and museums to keep you busy for one or two weeks but just a plain walk in the beautifully restored part of Candelaria can take you more than what you think. There are nice little bars and restaurants, too, with local specialties. Most points of interest are gathered in or near Candelaria and for a spectacular view one should go up to Monserrate. Avenida Jimenez is at the limits of Candelaria and is a very convenient area to stay. There are nice hotels on it and cheap backpackers hostels in the side streets.
Bogota citizens pride themselves for speaking the purest Spanish in the Americas.
There is a good network of public transportation joining Bogota with every corner of the country and neighbouring countries, too. A tourist train goes to Zipaquira, famous for its salt Cathedral and another line going north ending at Briceno. |
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 Comments for elsadran about Bogotá | | | | |
SLLiew Tue Jul 15, 2008 00:32 UTC
Very nice page of Bogota. Great photos of the architecture and museums here. Cheers, SL :) |
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