Catedral Primada de Colombia

Primatial Cathedral of Colombia, low-angle close-up of the facade, highlighting the bell towers and the clock tower. Above, the blue sky with dense white clouds is visible

Primatial Cathedral of Colombia, wide shot of the facade seen from the southwest with people in Bolívar Square, the Casa de la Independencia, and the Eastern Hills in the background. The sky appears white.

Primatial Cathedral of Colombia, interior view from the entrance looking toward the altar in the background, with many rows of chairs and a few people seated. Seven large white columns stand on each side, along with tall windows and two giant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

Primatial Cathedral of Colombia

Located in Bolívar Square, its official name is the Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral of Bogotá, the Primatial Cathedral of Colombia. Its current construction dates back to 1972, although it has been restored and renovated over time. Some historians trace its origins back to 1538, when Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, the founder of Bogotá, ordered the construction of a simple chapel made of wattle and daub. Later, with the arrival of Archbishop Friar Juan de los Barrios, a more solid church was built with brick walls.

The current temple was designed in the neoclassical style by Spanish Capuchin friar Domingo de Petrés. It was built between 1807 and 1823 on the same site where three earlier temples had served as cathedrals for the city. On August 11, 1975, it was declared a National Monument in recognition of its historical, architectural, and cultural value. It is the seat of the Cardinal of Bogotá. On November 7, 1902, Pope Leo XIII granted it the honorary title of Primatial of Colombia, and on May 25, 1907, it also received the title of Basilica.

The cathedral has four chapels, one of which, built in 1590 in honor of Saint Joseph, is the oldest. Its Ionic altar houses a statue of Our Lady of Mercy made in Quito. Another is the Chapel of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, where the remains of the city's founder, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, along with other distinguished figures of Bogotá, are laid to rest. The Primatial Cathedral houses the largest pipe organ in the country, dating back to 1890. In its dome, you can admire a painting depicting the Apocalypse's vision. An intriguing detail is that Saint John is portrayed with part of one foot appearing to step out of the painting.

The Chapel of El Sagrario is part of the cathedral but housed in a separate building. It venerates the Blessed Sacrament and is one of the most visited during Holy Week. The fourth chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of Topo, where a 16th-century oil painting pays tribute to the Virgin in a space that features its own choir and organ.