We started our tour in La Candelaria, Bogotá's heart and soul. Having grown from humble beginnings, it is the oldest part of the city; this and the Bolivar Square (La Plaza de Bolivar) is the focal point of this sector of the city. There was street art aplenty. The government originally took a dim view of graffiti but after a boy was shot by police painting on the bridge the outcry changed the law. Now street art is everywhere. Businesses even commission works to decorated their walls. And the local artists are famous.
Near the Plaza is an old catholic nunnery (now a museum) that has some fine art and weirdly an origami exhibition.
Just off the Plaza again is The Botero Donation - a permanent exhibition of works by Fernando Botero, Colombia's most famous artist. Botero’s works are funny, subversive, and incredibly valuable. Beryl Cook eat your heart out.
Talking of high value items, we also stopped off at the Gold Museum too. It displays an extraordinary selection of its pre-Hispanic gold work collection - the biggest in the world. These gold items, made of what to indigenous cultures was a sacred metal, testify to the life and thought of different societies that inhabited what is now known as Colombia, before contact was made with Europe. It was simply amazing. Such detail. And ever piece told a story. A long day but worth every minute - once we got to Colombia! 🇨🇴
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