Museo Botero (Botero Museum), Bogota

Museo Botero (Botero Museum), Bogota (must see)

The building housing the art collections of Fernando Botero is a rebuilt of the 1733 palace of Archbishop Antonio Claudio Salvarez de Quinonez. After his passing in 1736, the building served as a residence for several bishops of Santafe. In 1862 right-wing revolutionaries burned the palace. In 1882 the archives were destroyed by a mob.

In 1948 the palace was completely demolished by rioters during the Bogotazo, the violence following the assassination of President Gaitan. The ten years of chaos that followed became known as the time of "The Violence". The land was acquired by the Bank of the Republic, and the palace was rebuilt in 1955.

In 2000, the famous Colombian artist and noted art collector Fernando Botero donated his vast personal art collection to Bogota. The collection holds 208 works of art. Botero himself created 123 of them. The additional 85 pieces are by acclaimed international artists, including Salvador Dali, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Mark Chagall, Max Ernst, Toulouse Lautrec, and Pablo Picasso.

Under the custodianship of the Bank of the Republic, the rebuilt palace is impeccably maintained. As many as 1,000 people a day visit the museum. The Botero Museum is also a venue for lectures, workshops, and conferences. It is located at Street 11, number 4-41 in the historic neighborhood of La Candelaria.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bogota. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Museo Botero (Botero Museum) on Map

Sight Name: Museo Botero (Botero Museum)
Sight Location: Bogota, Colombia (See walking tours in Bogota)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Bogota, Colombia

Create Your Own Walk in Bogota

Create Your Own Walk in Bogota

Creating your own self-guided walk in Bogota is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Architectural Jewels

Architectural Jewels

Bogota, Colombia, is quite a city for an architectural experience. Attentive to the local historical heritage, the city has managed to preserve in full splendor most of its colonial buildings.

One such gem is the Palace (or House) of Nariño, the official residence of the President of Colombia. Its grandeur and historical significance make it a prominent landmark.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Bogota Old Town Walking Tour

Bogota Old Town Walking Tour

In 1538, the indigenous Muisca of the Colombian Altiplano had the advantage in numbers over the force of conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. Arriving in the Muisca Federation, the Spanish had only 162 exhausted men. However, the guecha warriors of Chief Tisquesusa were no match. The Federation fell in bloody battle.

In the area now known as Quevedo's Fountain Square, Quesada set up 12...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
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Bogota Shopping Tour

Colombia is known for its gold and emeralds, recognizable national clothing, pottery, accessories, and other crafts. The country's capital Bogota is so rich in authentic shopping that it's almost mind-boggling to decide what to buy first and most importantly, where to buy it at the best possible price!

Start your quest at Pasaje Rivas Market, Bogota's oldest marketplace, offering...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles

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