La Candelaria, Bogota

La Candelaria is the 17th locality of Bogotá. A historic neighborhood in the city's downtown, it is the equivalent to the Old City in other cities. The architecture of the old houses, churches and buildings has Spanish Colonial, Baroque and art deco styles. It houses several universities, libraries and museums.

It is made up of the neighborhoods La Catedral, La Concordia, Las Aguas, Centro Administrativo, Egipto, Belén, San Francisco Rural, Nueva Santa Fe and Santa Bárbara. The city was founded there on August 6, 1538 and the first church was built, this town encompasses the historic center of Bogotá, as well as an important tourist, educational and commercial center.

Teusaquillo (today Chorro de Quevedo) was a resting place for the Muisca ruler called Zipa. It is believed that in this place Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada founded, on August 6, 1538, what would become the City of Bogotá. The town takes its name from the colonial Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria.

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").

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).