Colombia (Page 1: Bogotá)

The Cathedral, built 1807 in classical style.  The adjacent building is the Chapel of El Sagrario, built in the late 17C.

Plaza Bolívar, the central square of the old town.  The Chapel of El Sagrario is at left, the Capitolio at the right.

Plaza Bolívar and the Capitolio, where Colombia's Congress sits.  A popular place for families on weekends.  Barricades in front of the Capitolio protect against terrorist attack.

The Supreme Court, which faces Plaza Bolívar.  This building replaces an earlier structure which was blown up by M-19 guerrillas (now an official political party) in 1985.

The Alcaldía de Bogotá, or city administrative building, just off the Plaza Bolívar.

Does your bank have balls?

Four views (above) of Barrio de la Candelaria, the colonial heart of Bogotá.  Formerly run down and decrepit, the area is being restored, and is pleasant to explore by day, but is still quite dangerous at night.

Three views (left) of the modern center of the city.  Authorities close the main street through the city on Sundays, when large numbers of families and bicyclists turn out (top).

Fruit sellers in central Bogotá.

The church at Monserrate, atop a large peak east of the center reached by funicular.

View of the city from Monserrate.  Bogotá has over 6 million inhabitants, by far the largest in Colombia.

Map courtesy Mapquest.