BogotÃ
Long before the arrival of the Spanish, the territory that today comprises Bogotá was inhabited by the muiscas, a highly developed pre-Columbian indigenous village. The city was founded in 1538 by the colonizer Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Initially, its name was Santa Fe de Bogotá, and throughout the colonial period, it was known as Santa Fe. After independence in 1821, it was renamed Bogotá and, by the middle of the 19th century, had 30,000 inhabitants.
Most of the sights in Bogotá are located in the colonial neighborhood of La Candelaria, which has churches and buildings from 300 years ago. The city has more than 60 museums of international stature, including the Gold Museum, one of the most impressive in South America, where the most extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold pieces is exhibited. It is also recommended to visit some of its churches, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, especially the Church of San Francisco, the oldest in the city.
Stroll through Plaza BolÃvar and enjoy the mix of Baroque and Spanish architecture. Admire the city from the top of the Cerro de Monserrate, where you will also find a church, sanctuary symbol of Bogotá for the miraculous image of the Fallen Lord. Temperatures in Bogotá range from 5 °C to 19 °C throughout the year.
