Thing to do
Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao
Bogotá's best-known covered market, open from before dawn, with flower sellers, tropical fruit, meat, dairy and herbs brought in from across Colombia.
Chorro de Quevedo
A small square in upper La Candelaria traditionally linked to the founding of Bogotá in 1538, with a rebuilt fountain and a small chapel.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic square
- Area
- La Candelaria, Bogotá, Colombia
Good to know
- Free
- Open-air
Why we recommend it
The Chorro de Quevedo is a small, sloping square in the upper part of La Candelaria, and it is one of the places where Bogotá tells the story of its own beginnings. Tradition holds that the conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada set up his garrison here before founding the city in 1538, and chroniclers wrote that the spot was where the Muisca ruler looked out over the Sabana de Bogotá. Whether or not every detail is exact, the square is widely treated as the symbolic birthplace of the city.
The name comes from Padre Quevedo, an Augustinian priest who acquired the site in 1832 and installed a public water fountain, a chorro, for the neighbourhood. The fountain worked until 1896, when a wall collapsed and destroyed it along with nearby buildings. In 1969 the square was rebuilt using old images and models, with a new basin, and the small chapel of San Miguel del Príncipe was built at the same time, modelled on the Capilla del Humilladero, considered the city's first church.
Today the plaza is surrounded by colonial and early 20th-century buildings and is a meeting point for walking tours and visitors exploring the old quarter. It is a good place to pause on a walk through La Candelaria, and several Bogotá walking tours pass through or start nearby, which is useful if you want the history explained in more depth.
There is no ticket and no opening time. Allow 15 to 30 minutes for the square itself, more if you sit at one of the cafés in the surrounding streets. The square sits uphill from Plaza de Bolívar, so wear comfortable shoes. As in any busy tourist area, keep phones and bags secure, and after dark stick to well-lit, busy streets or take a taxi.
The square is at Calle 12B and Carrera 2, uphill and east of Plaza de Bolívar. It combines naturally with the Museo Botero and the Museo del Oro in a day in the centre. Visit in daylight first to get your bearings. The square has kept its small scale since the 1969 rebuilding, which makes a pleasant contrast with the broad, formal Plaza de Bolívar a few blocks below.
Chorro de Quevedo FAQs
Why is the Chorro de Quevedo important?
Tradition links it to the founding of Bogotá in 1538, when Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada is said to have set up his garrison here.
Who was Quevedo?
Padre Quevedo, an Augustinian priest who acquired the site in 1832 and installed a public fountain.
Is the fountain original?
No. The original was destroyed in 1896, and the square was rebuilt in 1969 with a new basin.
What is the chapel on the square?
The Ermita de San Miguel del Príncipe, built in 1969 and modelled on the Capilla del Humilladero.
Does it cost anything?
No. It is a public square, free at all times.
How long should I spend there?
About 15 to 30 minutes, or longer if you stop at a café nearby.
Where is it?
At Calle 12B and Carrera 2, uphill and east of Plaza de Bolívar in La Candelaria.
Is it safe to visit at night?
Stick to busy, well-lit streets or take a taxi after dark, and keep valuables secure.