Things to see and do Bogotá & Area

Nicknamed "La Pola", Policarpa Salavarrieta (1795-1817) was a heroine of Colombian independence. At just 15, she took part in the fight against the Spanish colonists, in charge of communications, supplies and recruitment. She soon took on an espionage role as well, playing a strategic role by gathering vital intelligence on enemy tactics. Accused of treason by the crown, she was captured. She was shot to death in Plaza Bolivar in 1817, aged just 22, after resisting torture without giving up any information. Her youth, her courage, her contribution to the struggle and her tragic death immediately made her a symbol of freedom and an emblematic figure of independence. As a result, on the first centenary of independence in 1910, a first cement statue was erected in Barrio Las Aguas, to pay tribute to and celebrate La Pola's legacy. She is depicted seated on a bench, her hands tied behind her back, with a look of insubordination that conveys her conviction and devotion to the independence cause. "Although a woman and young, I have the courage to face death and a thousand other deaths. Long live freedom", reads the inscription at the foot of the statue. La Pola is a great Colombian female figure, honored in Bogotá, but also found elsewhere in the country, as well as on stamps, coins and the local beer "La Pola".

The basilica itself has nothing extraordinary, if not the fact of being built in red bricks, not painted. It is the only church we mention in the southern part of the city. It is a dangerous area for tourists. If you still decide to go there, take a taxi, and negotiate if you wish, the time of your visit. Here we feel the difference with the north of the city. The company is divided into very marked classes. The poverty of this neighborhood is affected by street dirt and the dress of its people. On Sunday, the place surrounding the church is very animated by the market and the faithful who come there very many. If you're facing the entrance to the church, on your left, you'll find a series of shops selling religious objects (icons, communion, representations of the Virgin, etc.), huge candles of various colors (blue, green, red, orange, white, etc.), which burn for months and illuminate from the inside. beautiful gradients.

In the Embassy of Israel.

Objects, representations and books related to bullfighting, particularly Colombian.

This beautifully decorated cloister traces the history of traditional Colombian crafts, from the original indigenous art to the present, classified by region. To give you good ideas of souvenirs to report.

Planetarium. It would be the largest dome in Latin America. 482 seats. It will enter into the fascinating world of the celestial vault.

This community association composed of about fifteen peasant families from the area was founded in 2007. Its objective is to preserve the magnificent sites of La Chorrera and del Chiflón, while creating jobs in tourism and the protection of fauna and flora. By visiting the park, we also support this association, which has done a lot of work so far.