Bogota’s Art Museum of the central bank

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The Art Museum of Colombia’s central bank is an architecturally stunning building in the heart of Bogota’s Candelaria district that houses some of the country’s best colonial and modern art.

The museum was established in 1957 in order to “protect and spread the history of Colombian art, acquire works considered bastions of our identity and offer space to other collections, for their high quality,” according to a museum pamphlet.

The museum’s entrance, a spotless and serene courtyard dotted with trees, is located across the street from the entrance to the Luis Angel Arango library on Calle 11 and Carrera 4.

Past the reception desk lies the museum’s internal courtyard, a tranquil space with numerous tables, fountains and shrubbery en plein air. Attached to the open space is the cafe-restaurant La Manzana, a trendy eatery filled with local businessmen, artists and students where one can eat a full meal for around $14.

The museum houses both temporary and permanent exhibitions. The latter boasts more than 3,500 works distributed throughout 15 rooms and is filled with art that spans Colombia’s history, from the colonial period until today, with additional works from European, American and Latin American artists

The temporary exhibitions are located on the spacious and modern second and third floors above La Manzana. The collection displays works from foreign and Colombian artists on loan from international museums and collectors.

On display until September 17 is “Historias de Pared,” by Sophie Calle, a multi-media exhibition detailing the French artist’s life-long efforts to document and understand the fabric of life of the world’s city-dwellers.

General Information:

• Calle 11 # 4-21
• Telephone: 343 11 11 / 12 12 (Bogota)
• Monday to Saturday 9 am to 7 pm (Last entrance 6:30 pm)
• Sundays and festivals 10 am to 5 pm (Last entrance 4:30 pm)
• Closed Tuesday
• Free entrance