Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá

This neoclassical cathedral anchors the eastern side of Bolívar Square in the historic Candelaria district. The present building was completed in 1823 after earlier churches on the site collapsed in earthquakes, and it serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Bogotá. Inside, visitors find a wide nave, gilded side chapels and the tomb of city founder Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. The pale stone twin-tower façade is a defining backdrop of the plaza, and its scale reflects the wealth of the colonial capital.