Colombia, Bogota, Towers of the Catedral Primada, Dome and Belfry of the Capilla del Sagrario, Plaza de Bolivar

Getty Images/AWL Images RM

Catedral Primada

Bogotá


This neoclassical cathedral stands on the site where the first Mass may have been celebrated after Bogotá was founded in 1538 (some historians argue that it happened at Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo, just east). Either way, it's Bogotá's largest cathedral. It's also the main plaza's most dominating building, facing from the northeastern corner.

The original simple thatched chapel was replaced by a more substantial building from 1556 to 1565; this later collapsed due to poor foundations. In 1572 the third church went up, but the earthquake of 1785 reduced it to ruins. Only in 1807 was the massive building that stands today initiated, and it was successfully completed by 1823. It was partly damaged during the Bogotazo riots in 1948. Unlike those of many Bogotá churches, its spacious interior has relatively little ornamentation. The tomb of Jiménez de Quesada, the founder of Bogotá, is in the largest chapel off the right-hand aisle.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Bogotá attractions

2. Capilla del Sagrario

0.03 MILES

This small baroque cathedral has more to see than its bigger brother next door, the Catedral Primada, including six large paintings by Gregorio Vásquez.

3. Plaza de Bolívar

0.05 MILES

The usual place to start discovering Bogotá is the giant concrete Plaza de Bolívar, the heart of the original town. What it lacks in green foliage it…

4. Palacio de Justicia

0.07 MILES

On the northern side of the plaza, this massive, rather styleless edifice serves as the seat of the Supreme Court.

6. Iglesia de San Ignacio

0.08 MILES

The Jesuits began this iconic church in 1610 and, although opened for worship in 1635, it was not completed until their expulsion in 1767. It was the…

7. Capitolio Nacional

0.09 MILES

On the southern side of the plaza stands this neoclassical seat of congress. It was begun in 1847 but, due to numerous political uprisings, not completed…

8. Museo Colonial

0.09 MILES

This museum occupies a one-time Jesuit college and traces the evolution of how religious and portrait art pieces are made, particularly by Colombia's…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "colombia/bogota/attractions/catedral-primada/a/poi-sig/419171/363308",
      "destination": "Bogotá",
      "continent": "South-America",
      "country": "Colombia",
      "city": "Bogotá",
      "position": "superzone"
    }