Bogota capital COLOMBIA

 

GENERAL INFORMATION


  • Founded on August 6, 1538 by Gonzalo Jiménez De Quesada; to go around Bogotá means making contact with people from everywhere in the country, in a continuous enriching migration flow, which permits enjoying cultural manifestations of the whole country, and also from other countries.

    • ALTITUDE: 2620 m. over sea level.
    AVERAGE TEMPERATURE: 14ºC; minimum: 0ºC during the summer nights; maximum temperature: 21ºC.
    POPULATION:

    4.945.448 according to DANE census of 1993.
    EXTENSION:

    33.000 HECTARES

    NOMENCLATURE:

    The nomenclature of the city has suffered changes throughout time, but now, the numerical designation of streets and avenues is a standard. Avenues go in a north-south direction, parallel to the east mountains, and numbers grow towards west. Streets are perpendicular to avenues and numbers grow towards north, starting from street 1, which limited the ancient colonial city. Transversals go in the direction of avenues, while diagonals go in the direction of streets.

    USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
    Area code: 1
    Information: 113
    Red Cross:   Phone: 132,428-0111
    FIRE Department:  Phone:  119, 235-5166, 217-8334.
    Police Department:    Phone: 156,112

    TOURISTIC INFORMATION

    El Dorado Airport: International gate (Phone 413-9053) and national gate (phone 413-8732)

    Instituto Distrital de Cultura y Turismo. : Cra 8 No9-83, phone 336-6511, www.idct.gov.co. From 8:30 to 4:30

    Instituto  Distrital de Recreación  y  Deporte: Cl 63 No 47-06. Phone: 630-3055.

    Policía de Turismo, Policía Metropolitana de Bogotá: Cra 13 No 26—62, Fax-Phone 337-4413.

    Fondo de Promoción Turística:  Calle 90 No. 18-35 Of. 203  Phone: 616-6874.

    NIGHT LIFE

    The city has several areas to enjoy a pleasant and comfortable environment for all the preferences, due to the fact that there are people coming from everywhere in the country. One of the most visited at night and best known areas is the "Zona Rosa" (pink zone) covering streets from 79 to 85 and avenues from 11 to 15;  it offers an ample variety of restaurants, pubs and discos for the  nigth life lovers.

    GASTRONOMY

    The official dish of the capital city is the "ajiaco Santafereño", a soup made up of three different kinds of potato, chicken, corn, "guascas" (leaves of a plant), accompanied with capers, cream and avocado.

    AIRPORT

    Aeropuerto Internacional ElDorado:   Phone: 425-1000.

    Puente Aéreo:   Av. ElDorado  No. 93-30,  Phone:  413-8103.

    Catám:   Phone:  413-9888.

    Guaymaral:   Phone: 676-0661.

    Helicol:   Av. ElDorado No, 93-30 4th floor, Phone:  413-9915.

    TRANSPORTATION

    Terminal de Transportes:   Cl 33b No. 69-13,  Phone:  295-1100. You can take buses to almost anywhere in the country. This bus station receives most of the buses coming from other cities.

    Radio Taxi:   Phone.  288-8888.
    Taxis Libres:   Phone.  311-1111.
    Taxi Real:    Phone. 333-3333.

    HOTELS

    There is a great variety of lodging options, from luxury hotels down to the smallest and most modest shelters, some of them working downtown in ancient colonial houses.

    ATTRACTIONS

    HISTORICAL-CULTURAL

    Quinta de Bolívar: PLaced at the eastern part of Santafé  de Bogotá, beside Monserrate and   Guadalupe mountains. The house was built around year 1800.

    Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo: PLaced at Calle 13 and Cra 2ª.

    Teatro Camarín del Carmen: PLaced at Cl 9 No 4-93.

    Casa de Nariño o PaLacio Presidencial: Serves as office for the prime mandatary of colombians, and for several dependencies of the Presidency of the Republic.

    Casa de Los Comuneros: PLace of the Instituto Distrital de
    Cultura y Turismo, at: Carrera 8ª N. 9 -83 Phone. 3505780 or 3366511.

    Casa de la Moneda: PLaced at Cl 11 No 4 - 93.

    ARCHITECTURAL

    Parque Central Bavaria:  PLaced at Cra. 13 N. 29-21

    Municipal Theater 'JORGE ELIECER GAITAN':  PLaced at: Carrera 7 N. 22-47.

    PaLacio de San Francisco: PLaced at: Avenida Jiménez, Carreras 7 and 8.

    Capitolio Nacional: The Congress of the Republic of Colombia functions here.

    Edificio Lievano: PLace of the Mayor's Office of Santafé de Bogotá. Settled at: Cra. 8, Calles 10 and 11.

    Archivo General de la Nación: Location: Cl 10 No 5 -22.

    RELIGIOUS

    Iglesia y Convento de las Aguas: The hermitage of 'Nuestra señora de las Aguas', actually the "Museo   de Arte Colonial", exhibits important works of the colonial painters.

    Iglesia de San Francisco: PLaced at Cr 7 and Av. Jiménez

    Iglesia de la Concepción: The construction started ending year 1538. It functions at Calle 10ª Cra 9a.

    Catedral Primada de Colombia: PLaced at the eastern side of the "Plaza de Bolívar". An important historical inheritance is kept inside.

    Iglesia de San Agustín: Jewel of the colonial architecture, fully built of hewn stone.

    Iglesia de San Ignacio: Inspired on churches of Jesus and San Ignacio in Rome. Inside the church, treasures of religious art are kept.

    Iglesia Museo de Santa Clara:  PLaced at Carrera 8ª and Calle 9ª.

    SIGHT SEEING PLacES

    Mirador de la Calera: A panoramic view of the northern part of the city can be taken from this pLace. Night life is animated with the various music and leisure pLaces.

    Torre Colpatria: Carrera 7ª N. 24 -89   Phone. 3386300

    NATURAL AREA

    Cerro de Monserrate: You can ascend by funicular or by train, which offer service Monday to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Cerro Guadalupe: Located at the eastern side of the capital city.

    MUSEUM

    Museo de "El Chico Mercedes Sierra de Pérez": Location: Carrera 7 N. 93-01.

    Museo de los Niños:  Found at Cra 48 N. 63-97.

    Museo Nacional de Colombia: PLaced at  Cra 7ª N. 28-66.

    Museo de Arte Moderno: It is pLaced at Cl 26 N. 25-50.

    Museo del Oro: The collection is composed of  34.000 gold pieces and 20.000 stone, ceramic, textile and jewelry objects.

    Museo del siglo XIX: The original one-floor house, was expanded around year 1880, following the so called republican style.

    Museo de Trajes Regionales de Colombia: PLaced at Cl 10 N. 6-30.

    Museo de Artes y  Tradiciones  Populares: Located at  Cra 8ª N. 7-21.

    Museo Arqueológico Casa del Marques de San Jorge: Location: Cr 6 7-43.

    CONTEMPORARY WORKS

    Maloka: Location: CR 68 D  N. 40ª51   Phone 4272707

    Estadio Nemesio Camacho 'El Campín': Located at Cl 57 and CR 27   Phone. 2356044

    Plaza de Toros 'La Santamaría':  It is located at Carrera 6ª N. 26 -50.

    Museo de Desarrollo Urbano planetario Distrital: PLaced at Carrera 7 and cl 26

    GALLERIES

    Galería el Taller: Address: Avenida Circunvalar N. 12-37 telephone numbers 2338718-2357409

    Galería Cano: Address: Edificio Bavaria. B Tower, interior 19 Telephone numbers: 2499114-2428851, Fax-Phone 2832541, telex 45580.

    Galería Arte 19: Address : Calle 25 N. 6-97. Phone: 3348824

    Galería Garcés Velázquez: Address : Carrera 5 N. 26-92. Phone numbers 2845593-2845975.

    Galería Café Libro: Address: Carrera 15 N. 46-38.
    Telephone number 2851794.

    Galería Iriarte: Address: Carrera 5 N. 71-75, Telephone numbers: 2488309-2353298.

    LIBRARIES

    Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia: Founded in 1777 as
    Real Biblioteca Publica de Santafé de Bogotá.

    Luis Angel Arango: PLaced at Calle 11 N. 4-14.

    PARK

    Parque Mundo Aventura: Location: Transv. 21 D N. 6-30 Phone. 4142700

    Parque Santander: PLaced at Calle 14 to 16, Carrera 7ª.

    Parque Nacional: Located at: Calle 35 to 39, Carrera 7ª.

    Parque Simón Bolívar: Location: Av. 68 CR 48 between Av. 26 and 63.

    Parque de la 93: Located at Calle 93A to 93B, Carrera 11A to 13.

    Parque de Usaquen: Location: Calle 118,Carrera 5ª and 6ª

    ACTIVITIES

    SHOPPING

    Bogotá  has a great variety of malls, boutiques, libraries  where the largest number of facilities for recreation and consumption for its inhabitants are found in a single pLace.

    CONGRESSES AND CONVENTIONS

    Bogotá  has different pLaces for congresses and conventions where we can find rooms with functional architectural complexes for their safety, comfort, services and great resource availability. As examples, we have Centro de Convenciones, Centro de Convenciones Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, Salón Conquistadores, and the most important one, Corferias.

    FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

    Bullfighting Season: Is celebrated from January to
    February, at the Santamaría bull ring.

    Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá music concerts: Take pLace at Universidad Nacional and other auditoriums. From February to December.

    Orquesta Sinfónica de Colombia music concerts: Fridays from February to December. There is a recess on Easter week.

    Eurocine:

    The theaters presenting this event are Teatro Colón and Colsubsidio, during the months of February to July.

    Park Events:

    During the months of June to November. These events take pLace at the various parks in the city.

    Festival de Cine de Bogotá:

    It takes pLace at the Museo de Arte Moderno, Cinemateca Distrital, Teatro Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, Avenida Chile, Odeón and Bima theaters.

    Summer Festival:

    The anniversary of Bogotá is celebrated with concerts, sport events, and various expositions.

    Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro:

    It takes pLace at parks, neighborhoods, coliseums, malls, tents, and also at the principal theaters in the city.

    Fiesta de Reyes:

      On January 5 and 6 at the parish of Egipto neighborhood.

    Festival internacional de Jazz del Teatro Libre:  Outstanding artists perform in both locations of the theater.

    Opera and Musical Comedy season:

      National and foreign artists perform the classical pieces of these musical genders.

    Corferias exposition rooms:

    Taking advantage of the structure of the plant, alternate fairs are made simultaneously. Corferias makes yearly and biannual fairs.

    PILGRIMAGE

    Iglesia Santuario Veinte de Julio:

    Located at Cl 27 S 5ª27

    Iglesia Santuario de Monserrate:

    PLaced at Cr 2E 21-48

    Paseo Bolívar:

    There is a sanctuary where Guadalupe Virgin is venerated.

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