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…
Museo Santa Clara
A former convent church of the Poor Clares near Plaza de Bolívar, now a museum of colonial painting, sculpture and altarpieces with contemporary art shows.
At a glance
- Type
- Church museum (colonial art)
- Area
- La Candelaria, Bogotá, Colombia
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Monday) · 09:00–17:00
- Official site
- museocolonial.gov.co
Good to know
- Colonial altarpieces
- Temporary exhibitions
Why we recommend it
The Museo Santa Clara is a museum of religious art in the former Clarian church in La Candelaria, the old centre of Bogotá. It shares its website with the Museo Colonial, and it is a quieter, more compact visit than the big museums nearby. The appeal is seeing colonial painting, sculpture and altarpieces in the kind of church setting they were made for.
The collection is drawn mainly from the objects that belonged to the old Clarian church and spans the 17th to the 21st centuries. It includes paintings, sculpture, prints, altarpieces, silverware, textiles and colonial furniture. The first work given to the museum, dated 1647, shows Saint Martin of Tours dividing his cloak with a poor man. Alongside the colonial pieces, the museum holds contemporary works donated by artists who have exhibited in the space, and it regularly hosts installations that respond to the church setting.
The official tourism board lists the museum as open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 17:00, and closed on Mondays for maintenance; confirm current times with the museum before you go. Its website lists the local phone numbers 337 6762 and 342 4100, which are useful for checking hours or what is on in the temporary exhibition space. A visit takes 30 to 45 minutes, which makes it easy to fit between the Museo Botero and Plaza de Bolívar. The museum suits anyone with an interest in colonial art or architecture, and the city government includes it in its list of ten essential museums in Bogotá. Because the collection mixes centuries, it rewards a slow look: compare the 17th-century devotional paintings with the contemporary pieces given by artists who have shown work in the church.
As this is a historic church, treat the space with respect, and ask at the entrance about photography, as rules can vary by exhibition.
The museum is on Carrera 8, a short walk south-west of Plaza de Bolívar. The Museo Colonial is a few blocks away on Carrera 6, and the Museo Botero and the cathedral are within a short walk, so Santa Clara slots easily into a day in the historic centre.
Museo Santa Clara FAQs
What is the Museo Santa Clara?
A museum of religious art in the former Clarian church in La Candelaria.
What is in the collection?
Paintings, sculpture, prints, altarpieces, silverware, textiles and colonial furniture from the 17th to the 21st centuries, mostly from the old Clarian church.
What are the opening hours?
The official tourism board lists Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 to 17:00, with Mondays closed for maintenance.
How long does a visit take?
About 30 to 45 minutes.
Does it have a phone number?
The museum's website lists 337 6762 and 342 4100.
Does it show contemporary art?
Yes. It holds works donated by contemporary artists who have exhibited in the church and hosts temporary exhibitions.
Where is it?
At Carrera 8 No. 8-91, a short walk from Plaza de Bolívar.
What is nearby?
Plaza de Bolívar, the cathedral, the Museo Botero and the Museo Colonial are all within walking distance.