MONSERRATE

Monserrate is the best known of the eastern hills of Bogotá. Alongside Guadalupe is one of the guardian hills of the city. Monserrate has an altitude of 3152 msnm and is located on the ridge oriental.

The hills of Bogotá, sedimentary, have at least 16 million years old, with Cretaceous rocks belonging to guadalupe Group, in what is refers to geological aspect. Until the mid-seventeenth century was known as Cerro de Las Nieves.

The Basilica of the Lord of Monserrate has been a place of religious pilgrimage since colonial times and becomes a natural, religious, gastronomic attraction of the city. You can climb the hill on the footpath, by cable car or funicular.

For 2014 are enabled three main methods of promotion:

Funicular: Open Monday to Saturday between 7:45 am and 11:45 pm, Sundays from 6:00 a.m to 30 September p.m

and holidays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Cable car: from Monday to Saturday between 12:00 p.m. 12:00 pm, Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m

Hike: Open to the public every day except Tuesday 7 between 5:00 a.m and 4:00 p.m

Monserrate is one of the most recognizable formations Bogotá Savannah and one of the symbols of the city.

Belonging to the eastern hills.

In the foothills the Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada founded the first Spanish settlement in the region Bacatá in the current race Calle Trece Second, not far from the Chorro de Quevedo, later called Pueblo Viejo, then known as Teivzaquillo.

JORGE ELIÉCER GAITÁN

Jorge Gaitan was a Colombian politician and jurist, Mayor of Bogotá in 1936, minister and dissident Liberal candidate for President of the Republic for the period 1946-1950 Party. His assassination in Bogotá produced massive popular protests known as The Bogotazo.

In the presidential elections of 1946 the Liberal Party is divided between the candidacies of Gabriel Turbay (supported by the official sector of the party) and Gaitán more inclined to the left (supported by the popular sectors) and the division facilitated the rise of conservative Mariano Ospina Pérez. 

In the legislative elections of Colombia of 1947, where he managed an undisputed majority in the Senate (35 Liberal senators "22 gaitanistas-13 directoristas" and 28 Conservatives) and House (74 liberal representatives "44 gaitanistas-30 directoristas" and 57 for conservatives). On October 24, 1947 Gaitán was proclaimed sole leader of the Liberal Party. 

In early 1948 upon learning the news of the slaughter of several liberal in several towns in the country at the hands of conservatives, Gaitán organized several marches among which are known as the "march of torches" and especially the "March of Silence" which raises a plea to President Ospina to help stop the violence and which raises a few hours of silence where only flags and banners moved by the wind could be heard.

On April 9, 1948, after defending well into the night Lieutenant Jesús María Cortés in court, Gaitán rested and then left at noon on Friday, 9, accompanied by several friends from the building Agustín Nieto (place of work) for lunch at the Hotel Continental and waiting several meetings that would have that day. 

A man, hypothetically, Juan Roa Sierra, was waiting at the entrance of the building and shot against a gun, causing fatal injuries.

Gaitán was taken to the Central Hospital where he died about 2:05 pm. The murder provoked a violent popular reaction and government repression known as The Bogotazo 1425 that destroyed buildings in downtown Bogota.

BOLIVAR SQUARE

The Bolívar Square  is located in the heart of the historical area of Bogotá. It has a statue of Simón Bolívar sculpted in 1846 by the Italian Pietro Tenerani, which was the first ever public monument in the city. Plaza Bolívar is also the name given to the main square in every city or town of Venezuela, the native country of Simón Bolívar.

On the Northern side of the square is the Palace of Justice, a big modern building where the Supreme Court works. The history of the Justice Palace is tragic enough and maybe symbolic of the problems of the nation. 

The first building was built in 1921 on the corner of the 11th and with 6th street and destroyed by a fire during the Bogotazo in April 1948. A new palace was built on the north side of the Bolívar Square and destroyed again in November 1985 by the guerrilla movement M-19 during the "Palace of Justice Siege", while the army tried to take control of the building. 

The ruins of the building were kept untouched for four years until the government decided to demolish them and construct the new building that currently exists.

On the southern side of the square the National Capitol is located, which is the seat of the Colombian Congress. Its construction was initiated in 1846 but due to the political instability of the country it was not finished until 1926.

This building was designed by the English architect Thomas Reed. The original design included a big dome. It was decided not to build the dome to finish the construction on time and not to defy the cathedral's tower.

On the west side of the square there is a French style building known as the Liévano building which is the seat for Bogotá's Mayor.

On the eastern side of the square is the Primary Cathedral of Bogotá, built between 1807 and 1823, and near it is the Holy Chapel, which was built at the end of the 17th century.

On the north-east corner is the Vase House, now also known as the Museum of the 20th July, in which occurred the Call for Independence on July 20 of 1810, the first independence attempt from the Spanish rule in Colombia.

Finally, on the south-east corner is the Mayor School of San Bartolomé, a secondary school institution, originally a university, established by the Jesuits in 1604, were many national personalities studied. The Camilo Torres little square is the place where some revolutionaries were killed in the Spanish re-conquest of 1816.

EL BOGOTAZO

The Bogotazo was an episode of violent protests, riots and repression in the center of Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, on April 9, 1948, following the assassination of Jorge Gaitan. It is considered as one of the first urban acts of the era known as La Violencia and is one of the most significant events of the twentieth century in the history of Colombia.

The unrest spread to other cities and regions but with less intensity.

The IX Pan American Conference was in full realization in Bogotá and the main objective of the government of the United States she was to convince the participating countries to perform an agreement to declare communism as an activity outside the law.

This would usher in what later Organization of American States (OAS) call. In parallel, was organizing a Latin American Student Congress formed in response to the Pan American Conference, to protest against US intervention in several Latin. 

The Student Congress was conceived and promoted by a student in Cuba Fidel Castro named Laws, funded by the Argentine Peronist government and summoned students from several Latin American countries, including Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Venezuela and Cuba. Among students the same Fidel Castro who had come to Bogotá to the March 31 and the other was after.

According to a previous agreement made yesterday in the office of Gaitán between Fidel, other students who accompanied him and Gaitán, a demonstration would end in Bolivar Square in which Gaitán give a speech. Another appointment was set to discuss the issue at 2:00 pm on April 9, but this failed to be performed due to the assassination of liberal leader.

Two suspects had been about 18 or 20 times in the vicinity of the offices Gaitán past noon from mid-March which aroused suspicions Pablo López, the elevator in the building who expressed doubts Secretary of Gaitán.

At 1 pm on April 9, these two individuals were seen again, a taller, thinner and older than the other. They had been in the building door or around prepared for the start of Gaitán. Seeing that Gaitán out one of them (probably the highest) asked a nod to another that showed quite nervous. Leaving Gaitán through the gate of the building turned north to go to lunch with friends who accompanied him, one with him and the other behind. 

At this point the shorter man gave the pass and shot him from behind. The number and frequency of shots varies witness witness, the fact is that a bullet hit him in the neck and two in the body, all mortals. 

The tall man must have gone through the crowd, while the lowest was the withdrawal receding and threatening those who would follow him to the police, Guard Carlos Alberto Jimenez captured, but despite care the police to protect the lynch mob took over. The lynched person was identified as Juan Roa Sierra.

GAMES

TEJO:

The tejo, also known as Turmequé, is considered the national sport of Colombia. It is a game that involves throwing a metal disc about 680 grams through a clay court 18 meters long to blow the fuses (small envelopes with gunpowder) found in the Bocin (metal circle that is located in the court) and thus be adding points.

The idea of the game is to throw the puck and put it in a metal circle (Bocin) in which the wicks are placed, winning the first game who complete 27 points, popping as many wicks, introducing the puck in the Bocin, grabbing some or by Moñona hands. In the yew individual and team competitions are made.

The score is agreed by the team, although in most places is quantified as follows:

Mano: Give 1 point to the closest Bocin to finish the round yew, except if there was that round wicks, embocinadas or moñonas.

Mecha: also known as bullet, gives 3 points or hands the player with the puck broke a lock of gunpowder.

Embocinada: Provides 6 points to the player who achieves his yew falls right in the middle of Bocin.

Moñona: Grants 9 points to the player who achieves his yew make a wick and a embocinada in the same turn.

The player with the hand or perform the first wick, embocinada or Monona round starts first in the next round.

RANA:

It is a game launch multiple precision, of Peruvian origin dating from the Inca empire, which attempts to introduce a certain number of chips or discs of iron or bronze in the many holes that exist in the table of the frog.

Some of them have obstacles to launch precision. The table is made of wood, but there are metal.

In the superio part has several holes in the center a frog sitting with mouth open in front of it a mill, sides two bridges and two holes and three holes behind.

The chips are made of steel. The games are usually held ten runs. If the currency goes into the mouth of smoked earn 500 points.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PAST BOGOTA AND ACTUAL BOGOTA

The difference between actual bogota is that:

-In the past bogota had many wars, like for the independence-but now, we dont have wars like in that moment

-In the past Bogota had Tranvia-but now, we have transmilenio

- The people used so much the radio especially when Bogota passed in a large period of blackouts-but know we see TV

-Inthe past there were many fight and strikes, so much that the presidents were dying-but now we are improving in that and we fight only with our voice.

FOOD

In Bogotá and in the rest of the country is developing very traditional dishes based on pork, potatoes, beans, corn, rice and soups. Among the most typical dishes of the region is in the santafereño ajiaco, a delicious chicken soup with a variety of potatoes; suckling pig, roast pork stuffed with rice and meat typical Tolima; exquisite tray Paisa, a mixture of beans, eggs, meat, rice and bananas, which are also often added as pork sausage and pork rinds. Additionally, this destination can also enjoy delicious pies with rice, meat and vegetables.

To accompany any of these dishes, it is very common to find refreshing fruit juices such as passion fruit, strawberry, blackberry and guava. A typical drinks in Bogotá is the masato, which is made with rice, sugar, cloves and cinnamon. On the other hand, it is possible to enjoy the traditional brandy is made from sugar cane alcohol and substance of anis. For cold weather you can enjoy a drink called The Canelazo, and prepared with aguadepanela, cinnamon and aguardiente and usually take jarritos mud or thick glasses.

Ajiaco Santafereño, Bogotá, 

Delicious chicken soup with a variety of potatoes.

Tray Paisa, Bogotá, 

Mix beans, eggs, meat, rice, plantains, chorizo and pork rinds.

Canelazo, Bogotá, 

Rum-based drink with cinnamon.

Masato, Bogotá, 

Drink made of rice, sugar, cloves and cinnamon.

CASA DEL FLORERO

The Museum of Independence - House Vase, formerly Museum July 20, is a museum that is housed in a colonial building located on the northeast corner of the Plaza de Bolivar in Bogota in the race 7th to 11th Street.

For the history of Colombia's Independence Museum - Casa del vase is a very important place because he produced one of its highlights, known as the Grito de Independencia on July 20, 1810. Every July 20 is celebrates the "Independence" of Colombia in every city in the country with military parades and patriotic symbols honors.

On Friday July 20, 1810, market day in town, Mr. Luis Rubio with a group of citizens of Santa Fe (former name of Bogota) led by Francisco Antonio Morales Creoles, they approached the establishment of the Spanish distinguished José González-Llorente located in that place, to borrow a vase to provide a reception on the occasion of the visit of the royal commissioner and Commander of the Royal Navy gift Antonio Villavicencio to Bogotá, which take place on August 1. All this was part of a well established plan, which would seek to incite the brawl with Llorente.

Given the refusal of González-Llorente, a tense situation that finished convulsing to the population that was in the main square was generated. This situation awakened the ideals of independence of the Creoles who were against the Spanish government.

Subsequent events triggered the establishment of the Creole representation in the Supreme Governing Board chaired by the Viceroy Antonio José Amar y Borbón, through open forums convened.

On July 26 is drawn and another document in which the absolute freedom of the Supreme Council for the Board of Regents of Spain is declared and is deposed and imprisoned the Viceroy Amar y Borbón is signed.

SIMON BOLIVAR VIDEO

GONZALO JIMENEZ DE QUESADA

Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada and Rivera or Giménez de Quesada  was a Spanish explorer and conqueror of Colombia between 1536 and 1572. He commanded the expedition of conquest of New Granada (current Colombia) and founded among others Bogota, the current capital of Colombia, in 1538. the last shipment was made between 1569 and 1572 in search of El Dorado, which ended disastrously.

Quesada founded Bogotá with a church, where Bartolomé de las Casas on August 6, 1538 celebrated the first Mass of Santa Fe de Bogota, taken as the date of the founding of the city. Quesada and his men remained in the region until the arrival in 1539 of the expeditions of Sebastián de Belalcázar coming from Ecuador and Nicolas Federman coming from Venezuela.

With the idea of reaching the fabled and mythical land of El Dorado, in 1568, at the age of 60, Jimenez de Quesada received a commission to conquer Los Llanos east of the Colombian Andes. He left Santa Fe de Bogotá in April 1569 with 400 Spaniards, 1500 natives, 1100 horses and 8 priests.

The expedition was one of the most expensive disasters recorded and after a brief stint in the command of the border, Quesada retired to Suesca with what could save his fortune.

He died of leprosy in Mariquita on February 16, 1579, and his remains are in the Cathedral of Bogota.

HOUSE OF MANUELITA SAENZ

Manuela Sáenz Aizpuru was a patriot and Quito girlfriend of Simon Bolivar, recognized by contemporary Spanish American independence historiography as heroin Independence South America.


It is also known as Manuelita Sáenz and as "Liberator of the Liberator" for his decisive action defending Simon Bolivar during an attack against them.

Criticized, denigrated and ignored and banished by his contemporaries and even decades after his death, only the mid-twentieth century Manuela Sáenz began to be claimed as heroine and hero in the quest for independence or as a precursor of feminism in America America. In any case, almost two centuries after his death, is a character that continues even arousing hatred or love and causing debates and controversias.

       HER HOUSE

The Museum of Regional Costumes of Colombia was founded in 1972 by Edith Jiménez Muñoz, belongs to the American University, is currently located in the House of Manuela Sáenz in the historic center of the city of Bogotá.
In this house the permanent collection is a sample of peasant costumes and indigenous communities, as well as ethnographic objects and traditional arts.





One of the attractions of the museum is the equity value of the house plus its rich history. Having been inhabited by Manuela Sáenz in the nineteenth century, this is certainly one of the hallmarks of the museum.                                   

CHORRO DE QUEVEDO

The plaza del Chorro de Quevedo is a public place in Bogotá. Here he established his garrison Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, before founding the city in the current Plaza de Bolivar in 1538. It is located at 13 with race 2, in the historic center of the city. It is framed by colonial buildings and early twentieth century.

According to the chroniclers, the site occupied by the Chorro de Quevedo was where the muisca zipa watched all the plain of Bogota.

In 1832 the site was purchased by the Augustinian Father Quevedo, who installed a public water source. The jet remained until 1896, when a wall that destroyed the source and some of the surrounding buildings collapsed.

------------------------------------------------------------

In 1969 the square was reconstructed based on some images and old models and a pool was installed. That same year the Ermita de San Miguel Prince was built in the image of the former Calvary Chapel, which was the first church that had Bogotá.

By 1985 it was restored and provided with a wall with some boxes and humane north side figures. Currently the square is frequented by tourists and is surrounded by cafés, restaurants and craft shops.

POLICARPA SALAVARRIETA

She was as a heroine of the independence of Colombia. She was born 26 January 1795, and she died in 14 November 1817. Policarpa was captured by Spanish Royalists and ultimately executed for high

treason. Because her birth certificate was never found, her legal given name is unknown. The name Salavarrieta is known only by the names her family and friends used.

Her date and place of birth can be surmised from information available about her siblings which, curiously enough, were not lost.

Her siblings were:

-María Ignacia Clara, born in the San Miguel parish of Guaduas August 12, 1789 – 1802

-José María de los Ángeles, baptised in Guaduas on August 12, 1790 - became an Augustinian friar

-Catarina, born in Guaduas, 1791

-Eduardo, born in Guaduas on November 3, 1792 – 1802

-Manuel, born in Guaduas on May 26, 1796 - also became an Augustinian friar

-Francisco Antonio, baptised in the Santa Bárbara parish, Bogotá, 26 September 1798

-Ramón, confirmed in Bogotá in 1800

-Bibiano, baptised in Bogotá, 1801.

-------------------------------------------------

She also appear in the 10000 bill because she was very important

in the story of Colombia

Sergeant Iglesias, the principal Spanish officer in Bogotá, was charged with finding and arresting her. Policarpa Salavarrieta and her brother Bibiano were both arrested at the house of Andrea Ricaurte y Lozano and taken to the Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, which had been turned into a makeshift prison.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the independence of Colombia in 1910, the Government of Colombia issued a series of stamps that featured the images of the some of the Heroes of the Independence, including Policarpa Salavarrieta, Simón Bolívar, Francisco de Paula Santander, Camilo Torres Tenorio and others. Between 1903 and 1904 the Department of Antioquia issued a blue 3 pesos stamp depicting La Pola.

SIMÓN BOLÍVAR

Simon Jose Antonio de la Santisima Trinidad Bolivar y Palacios Ponte y Blanco, better known as Simón Bolívar, (Caracas, Captaincy General of Venezuela, July 24, 1783 - Santa Marta, Gran Colombia, December 17, 1830) was a military and Venezuelan politician prerepublicana time of the Captaincy General of Venezuela; founder of Gran Colombia and one of the most important of American emancipation against the Spanish Empire figures. 

He contributed decisively to the independence of current 

Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. 

In 1813 he was awarded the honorary title of Liberator by the Town hall of Merida in Venezuela that, after being ratified in Caracas that year, became associated with his name. The problems to carry out their plans were so frequent that even said himself that he was "the man of difficulties" in a letter to General Francisco de Paula Santander in 1825.

He participated in the founding of the Gran Colombia, a nation that tried to consolidate like a great political and military confederation in America, of which he was President. Bolivar is considered by their actions and ideas "Man of America" and a leading figure in world history as it left a political legacy in several Latin American countries, some of which have become the object of nationalistic veneration. He has received honors in several parts of the world through statues or monuments, parks, squares, etc. Likewise, his ideas and political-social attitudes led to a stream or posture called bolivarianismo.