La Candelaria, Bogotá

(Learn how and when to remove this message)
Locality of Bogotá in Bogotá D.C., Colombia
4°35′30″N 74°04′27″W / 4.591722°N 74.074130°W / 4.591722; -74.074130Country ColombiaCityBogotá D.C.Area
 • Total2.06 km2 (0.80 sq mi)Elevation
2,600 m (8,500 ft)Population
 (2007)[1]
 • Total22,115 • Density11,000/km2 (28,000/sq mi)Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)WebsiteOfficial website

La Candelaria is the 17th locality of Bogotá, Colombia. It is a historic neighborhood located in the city's downtown area, similar to the Old City in other cities.[2] The architecture in La Candelaria features Spanish Colonial Baroque, and art deco styles. The locality is home to several universities, libraries, and museums.

La Candelaria encompasses the neighborhoods of La Catedral, La Concordia, Las Aguas, Centro Administrativo, Egipto, Belén, San Francisco Rural, Nueva Santa Fe and Santa Bárbara. The area was the site of the Bogotá's founding on August 6, 1538, and it includes the historic center of Bogotá. Today, it serves as an important tourist, educational, and commercial hub.

History

Teusaquillo (now known as Chorro de Quevedo) was a resting place for the Muisca ruler, the Zipa. It is believed that Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada founded what would become Bogotá, on August 6, 1538, at this location. The town was named after the colonial Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria.[3]

In April 1539, the formal foundation was established in the current Plaza de Bolívar. The original city layout included the Plaza Mayor and the site of the Parish of San Pedro, which later became the Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral of Bogotá and Primate of Colombia.

Church of San Francisco

The city expanded to the north (Plaza de las Hierbas), south (Las Cruces) and west (San Victorino), with the Plaza Mayor and the Cathedral remaining the traditional center and seat of colonial and later republican powers. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the city was divided into four parishes: San Pedro, Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, San Victorino and Santa Bárbara. The Parish of San Pedro included the area of the current locality of La Candelaria, which was composed of the neighborhoods of el Príncipe, San Jorge, El Palacio and La Catedral.

When the Special District of Bogotá was created in 1955, there was no significant distinction between the central area of Bogotá and the historic center. In the 1970s, the La Candelaria corporation was established to preserve the historical heritage of the neighborhoods of La Catedral, La Concordia and La Candelaria.

Through Agreement 7 of December 4, 1974, the Council of Bogotá established the Minor Mayor's Office of La Candelaria. This lead to its recognition in 1991 as one of the 20 localities of the Capital District of Bogotá, with the first Local Administrative Board (JAL) elected.

Attractions

In La Candelaria is the site of the formal foundation of the city, the Plaza Mayor known today as Plaza de Bolívar. Around it are the Capitolio Nacional (seat of the Congress of Colombia), the Palace of Justice (seat of the Supreme Court of Justice), the Palacio Liévano (seat of the Mayor's Office of Bogotá), the Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá, the Chapel del Sagrario and the Archbishop's Palace (seat of the Archbishop "Cardinal seat").

Museum of the Police

In addition to the Capitolio and the Palace of Justice, other important seats of national power located in the place are the Casa de Nariño (seat of the Presidency of the Republic and presidential residence), and the Palacio de San Carlos (seat of the Chancellery or Ministry of International Relations).

Among the museums, the Museums and Collections of the Bank of the Republic (Mint House, Museo Botero and Art Museum of the Bank of the Republic), Casa del Florero, the Museum of Colonial Art, the Archaeological Museum House of the Marquis of San Jorge, the Military Museum, the Regional Costume Museum (Manuelita Sáenz's house), the Museo de Bogotá, the National Police Museum.

Among the cultural centers are the Luis Ángel Arango Library, which in addition to having reading rooms, offers daily conferences that cover all sciences, as well as being the site of important art exhibitions. There is also the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center, the Gilberto Alzate Avendaño Foundation and the birthplace of Rafael Pombo.

Among its churches, parishes, rectories and sanctuaries, it is worth mentioning the Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá, the Chapel del Sagrario, the Santa Clara Church Museum, the National Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, the San Ignacio Church, the Church of San Agustín, the Ermita del San Miguel del Príncipe, the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Belén, the Church of Nuestra Señora de Las Aguas, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria and the Church of Santa Bárbara.

Several universities have their headquarters in this town, among which Los Andes, La Salle, Del Rosario, la Gran Colombia, Externado, Free University, the Autonomous, America, the Central, National Unified Corporation for Higher Education, Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, Francisco José de Caldas District University and the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé stand out.

Other sites of interest include:

Street of La Candelaria.
Art deco house - La Vieja Suiza, Calle 12 No. 3-07 Bogotá, Colombia
The Luís Ángel Arango Library facade and part of 11th street at La Candelaria neighborhood.

Churches

Universities

Climate

Climate data for La Candelaria (Venado Oro Vivero), elevation 2,725 m (8,940 ft), (1971–2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 19.6
(67.3)
18.9
(66.0)
18.8
(65.8)
18.7
(65.7)
18.6
(65.5)
18.1
(64.6)
17.5
(63.5)
17.7
(63.9)
18.3
(64.9)
18.3
(64.9)
18.3
(64.9)
18.8
(65.8)
18.4
(65.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.9
(55.2)
13.1
(55.6)
13.3
(55.9)
13.4
(56.1)
13.2
(55.8)
13.0
(55.4)
12.5
(54.5)
12.6
(54.7)
12.8
(55.0)
12.9
(55.2)
12.8
(55.0)
12.8
(55.0)
13
(55)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 7.9
(46.2)
8.5
(47.3)
9.0
(48.2)
9.5
(49.1)
9.7
(49.5)
9.4
(48.9)
9.0
(48.2)
8.6
(47.5)
8.6
(47.5)
8.7
(47.7)
8.9
(48.0)
8.1
(46.6)
8.9
(48.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 70.6
(2.78)
74.6
(2.94)
107.3
(4.22)
125.5
(4.94)
129.0
(5.08)
72.8
(2.87)
70.3
(2.77)
64.0
(2.52)
59.9
(2.36)
128.6
(5.06)
142.8
(5.62)
89.4
(3.52)
1,134.6
(44.67)
Average precipitation days 8 11 14 17 20 21 21 20 15 17 17 13 183
Average relative humidity (%) 80 80 81 82 83 82 82 81 80 82 83 81 81
Mean monthly sunshine hours 124.0 101.6 89.9 75.0 83.7 93.0 102.3 108.5 93.0 80.6 75.0 102.3 1,128.9
Mean daily sunshine hours 4.0 3.6 2.9 2.5 2.7 3.1 3.3 3.5 3.1 2.6 2.5 3.3 3.1
Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales[4]

References

  1. ^ (in Spanish) Population 2007 – DANE
  2. ^ Kaufman, David. "The Return of Bogotá." TIME. Thursday April 16, 2009. Retrieved on April 22, 2009.
  3. ^ "Historia del FCE". Fondo de Cultura Económica Colombian subsidiary. Archived from the original on 7 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Promedios Climatológicos 1981–2010" (in Spanish). Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for La Candelaria.