In one of the cultural settings most beloved by travelers and locals alike stands Umbral, a monument that pays tribute to the medical personnel who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a work that is not only observed: it is walked through, felt, and understood with every slow step.
Created by Colombian artist Carlos Castro, Umbral was born as an act of gratitude. Its structure symbolizes the journey that marked an entire generation: the passage through uncertainty, pain, and, finally, hope. The proposal was chosen to inhabit this space because of its ability to engage in a dialogue with the library’s architecture and the surrounding landscape. Here, art does not interrupt the environment; it complements it. Walking through the work is like crossing a symbolic border between memory and the present.
Visiting the Virgilio Barco Library is, in itself, an unmissable plan in Bogotá. Designed by Rogelio Salmona, it is a landmark of contemporary Latin American architecture. Its reflecting pools, circular terraces, and pathways invite visitors to spend hours among books, exhibitions, and open-air cafés. Now, in addition to enjoying a good read or watching the sunset from its viewpoints, you can visit this monument, which gives you one more reason to return.
Umbral also reaffirms something that surprises those who discover the city: Bogotá is an open-air museum. In the historic center, the Fragmentos memorial space, created by Doris Salcedo, transforms art into collective reflection. Nearby, Bolívar Square is guarded by the imposing Monument to Simón Bolívar, one of the symbols most photographed by visitors. And in the west of the city, the sculpture Ventana al Mundo (Window to the World)—a national benchmark for contemporary public art—reminds us how Colombian cities have turned their open spaces into living cultural stages.
Today, the invitation is clear: come to the Virgilio Barco Library, wander through its paths, have a coffee, choose a book, and step through Umbral. Discover how Bogotá honors memory through art and how every corner can become an experience that connects history, architecture, and emotion. Here, culture is not confined within walls; it breathes in the open air and waits for you.
Religious Tourism
