Attraction
Museo del Oro
The Banco de la República's Gold Museum on Parque Santander holds tens of thousands of pre-Columbian pieces, including the Muisca raft linked to the El Dorado…
Catedral Primada de Bogotá
The neoclassical cathedral on Plaza de Bolívar, built between 1807 and 1823 by Domingo de Petrés, holds the tomb of the city's founder and Colombia's largest organ.
At a glance
- Type
- Cathedral
- Area
- La Candelaria, Bogotá, Colombia
Good to know
- Pipe organ
- 16 chapels
Why we recommend it
The Catedral Primada de Bogotá fills the eastern side of Plaza de Bolívar, and its twin towers, each 52 metres high, are one of the defining views of the old centre. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Bogotá and has held the honorary title of primate church of Colombia since a papal decree of 1902. The site has been a place of worship since the city's earliest days: the first Mass in the area was celebrated in August 1538, and three earlier churches stood here before the present building.
The current cathedral was designed by the Capuchin friar Domingo de Petrés and built between 1807 and 1823 in a restrained neoclassical style. Inside, a Latin-cross plan of roughly 5,300 square metres holds 16 chapels. It was declared a national monument in 1975.
Look for the chapel of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, where Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, the Spanish conquistador who founded Bogotá, is buried in a tomb sculpted by Luis Alberto Acuña. The same chapel holds the remains of the independence leader Antonio Nariño and of the colonial painter Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ceballos. Music lovers should note the pipe organ: with about 4,500 pipes it is the largest in Colombia, and it was restored between 2013 and 2016, returning to use in July 2016. The chapel of Our Lady of El Topo holds the remains of Aurelio París Sanz de Santamaría, other chapels hold several archbishops, and the ashes of the independence-era statesman Pedro Gual rest in a marble monument.
This is a working church, so dress modestly, keep voices low and avoid wandering during services. A visit to the nave and the main chapels takes 20 to 30 minutes. Visitors are expected to respect the timing of Masses, so look at the chapels outside service times.
The cathedral sits next to the Archbishop's Palace, facing the Capitol across Plaza de Bolívar. The Museo Botero and the Museo Santa Clara are both within a short walk, and Carrera 7 leads north to the Museo del Oro. Combine it with the square and the Botero collection for a compact half-day in La Candelaria.
Catedral Primada de Bogotá FAQs
When was the cathedral built?
Between 1807 and 1823, to designs by the Capuchin friar Domingo de Petrés.
Who is buried in the cathedral?
Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, founder of Bogotá, lies in the chapel of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, together with Antonio Nariño and the painter Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ceballos.
How tall are the towers?
Each tower is 52 metres high.
What is special about the organ?
With about 4,500 pipes it is the largest organ in Colombia. It was restored between 2013 and 2016.
Is there a dress code?
It is a working church, so modest clothing and quiet behaviour are expected, especially during Mass.
How long does a visit take?
Around 20 to 30 minutes for the nave and chapels.
Where is it?
On the eastern side of Plaza de Bolívar in La Candelaria, beside the Archbishop's Palace.
Is it a protected building?
Yes. It was declared a national monument in 1975.