The Colombian capital city known for its Gold Museum and historic La Candelaria district is Bogotá. Located on a high plateau in the Andes, Bogotá sits about 2,640 meters above sea level and is Colombia’s political, cultural, and economic center.
The city was founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada in 1538 near the site of the Muisca settlement of Bacatá. La Candelaria preserves much of Bogotá’s colonial character, with cobbled streets, colorful façades, churches, museums, and landmarks around Bolívar Square.
The Gold Museum, or Museo del Oro, was established by Colombia’s central bank in 1939. Its collection includes tens of thousands of pre-Columbian objects made from gold, tumbaga, ceramics, stone, textiles, and other materials. The exhibits represent cultures including the Muisca, Quimbaya, Zenú, Tairona, and Calima.
A common mix-up is confusing Bogotá with Cartagena, Colombia’s famous Caribbean port. Cartagena is celebrated for its walled colonial city, while Bogotá is the inland capital associated with La Candelaria and the Gold Museum.