Streets squares and districts to visit Bogotá

A must-see during your visit, Bolivar Square is the historical, political, cultural and religious heart of the country. It was built on the site of the first twelve houses built in Bogotá and dedicated to the twelve apostles. Following the strict rules of architecture imposed by the Spanish Crown, the Plaza Mayor is dominated by the statue of Simón Bolívar, created in 1846 by the Italian sculptor Pietro Tenerani. To the south of the square stands the neoclassical Capitol Nacional, built between 1847 and 1925. It is the seat of Congress. The building opposite it on the other side of the square is the Palacio de Justicia. This modern building replaced the old courthouse that was destroyed by army tanks in 1985 after it was occupied by an M-19 guerrilla group. On the east side, the majestic cathedral and the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as the Casa del Florero. On the west side, the Palacio Liévano which houses the town hall. This large square is always very lively and regularly hosts political and cultural events. At dawn on June 5, 2016, in 8°C weather, more than 6,000 people stripped down to pose naked in front of the lens of the North American photographer Spencer Tunik (video of the event that brought together ex-guerrillas, ex-paramilitaries and ex-military on YouTube: "Johnnie Walker & Mambo enable Spencer Tunick and a moment of Colombian unity"). More recently, in September 2017, Pope Francis came there to bless 22,000 young Colombians.

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".