The Temple of Our Lady of Carmen rises in the vicinity of the Primada Cathedral and the Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá. Although its construction dates back to 1938, its origins date back to the mid-17th century, when the small Church of Carmen, part of the Monastery of San José, was erected there. After the expulsion of the Carmelite Mothers in 1881 and their subsequent use as a military hospital, the government recovered the monastery, giving it to the Salesians in 1890, who acquired pictures, images and altars for the worship of the Virgin of Carmen.
It was such devotion, that it became necessary to build a new temple, designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Buscaglione in an exquisite Florentine Gothic style, with Byzantine and Arab details. The building consists of three ships, floor on Latin cross, and stands out its interpolated brown and cream painting, emblematic colors of the Carmelitans. Together with the Salesian College León XIII was declared a National Monument in 1993.
In 1987 it was restored, recovering the mural painting and frescoes of the entrance, enhancing its timeless beauty.
