View of the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center in Bogotá, with its characteristic curved concrete and brick corridors designed by Rogelio Salmona. In the background, architectural elements of the historic La Candelaria district can be seen under a partly cloudy sky. Interior courtyard of the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center, with a circular reflecting pool surrounded by flower gardens and the shops of the Fondo de Cultura Económica bookstore. The curved brick and concrete architecture frames the space, characteristic of Rogelio Salmona's design. Rogelio Salmona Auditorium of the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center, with rows of chairs for the audience facing a stage equipped with a projection screen, lectern, and four armchairs. The venue stands out for its wood finishes and its suitability for conferences, talks, and cultural activities. Plaza México of the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center in Bogotá, a large open space with brick floors arranged in circular patterns and benches distributed around it. The plaza is surrounded by brick walkways and buildings designed by Rogelio Salmona, overlooking the historic La Candelaria neighborhood. The Débora Arango Exhibition Hall at the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center, a spacious interior with light brick floors and walls, concrete columns, and a photographic exhibition displayed along the walls. The space is designed to host temporary art and cultural exhibitions.
  • Description
  • How to get there

The Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center (CCGGM), inaugurated in 2008, is a landmark for artists, writers, intellectuals, and culture enthusiasts in general. This emblematic architectural work, located in the La Candelaria district of Bogotá and designed by the Colombian-French architect Rogelio Salmona, pays homage to the renowned Colombian writer and 1982 Nobel Laureate in Literature, Gabriel García Márquez.

The CCGGM was conceived with the intention of creating a space dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of Colombian and Ibero-American culture, arts, and literature. Today, it is a versatile and distinctive architectural and cultural icon, conducive to the discussion and debate of topics, authors, and publishing matters. The Cultural Center hosts artistic and cultural expressions related to literature, visual arts, education, film, music, dance, theater, and various fields of knowledge and practice. 

The impressive work of the master architect Salmona, with a constructed area of ​​approximately 9,500 m², features various multipurpose spaces such as the Débora Arango Exhibition Hall; the Rogelio Salmona Auditorium (capacity 324 people); the Porfirio Barba Jacob Auditorium (76 people); and the María Mercedes Carranza (35 people) and León de Greiff (35 people) classrooms. The Plazoleta México serves as a venue for presentations, exhibitions, and outdoor gatherings.


The two primary services of this Cultural Center are its bookstore and art gallery. The bookstore, connected to the outside by large windows, has a capacity for 50,000 books. The gallery, with over 216 m², is designed to showcase the works of national and international visual artists.

Salmona's architectural style, characterized by blurring the lines between buildings and the city's green spaces, offers a completely public walkway that extends to the rooftop level, where one can contemplate both the urban landscape of La Candelaria and the imposing eastern hills of Bogotá. 

The Cultural Center is one block from Plaza de Bolívar, near 13 universities, 22 educational institutions, 2 libraries, and 69 cultural venues, including the Luis Ángel Arango Library and the Banco de la República cultural complex.

📍 How to get there

* By car: You can arrive via Carrera 5 or Carrera 10 and head towards the La Candelaria district. 

* By TransMilenio: The most convenient option is to get off at the Avenida Jiménez station and walk approximately 10 to 15 minutes through the historic center to the cultural center. You can also arrive from nearby stations and bus stops in San Victorino or via SITP zonal routes that run along Carrera 4, 5, and 10 in the La Candelaria district.