Guida di Bogotà, Colombia

With its current approximately 8 million inhabitants and 20 neighborhoods, Bogotá until a few years ago teetered on the edge between modernity and chaos, threatened by traffic and immigration, smog, and the typical chaos of all South American capitals. The Transmilenio project (92 articulated buses) changed everything. The project reorganized traffic and urban mobility, deeply modifying the life and future of the city. Security has improved, numerous urban infrastructure projects are underway, the city is very clean, and people are fully reclaiming their neighborhoods. Today Bogotá is vibrant, multicultural, young, a city to enjoy outdoors, especially on foot or by bike on Sundays when many streets close to car traffic and open to skaters and cyclists (an impressive 300 km of bike lanes), or to crowd various parks like Simon Bolivar, Enrique Olaya Herrera National Park, Tercer Milenio Park, or the El Salitre sports complex, or various golf courses open to all. In the city that hosts more than 50 museums, many events dedicated to art (ARTBO in October), music (like the “Rock al Parque” festival in November, “Jazz al Parque” in September, “Salsa al Parque” in August, “Opera y Zarzuela al Parque” in November, etc.), theater (“Ibero-American Theater Festival” in March), gastronomy (international gastronomy festival in November), literature (“Book Fair” in April), and many other events and festivals. Colombian cuisine offers many dishes, among them arepas (small turnovers with various fillings); and Bogotá’s specialty: ajiaco, a thick chicken stew with various types of potatoes, guascas leaves, and corn, served with cream and capers. On the coast, excellent fish is eaten.
Tourist attractions. The Gold Museum, Calle 16, 5-41, Tel. 57-1-343-2222; entry 2,500 pesos, with 34,000 pre-Columbian pieces. The Botero Museum, Calle 11, No. 4-21, Tel. 57-1-343-1223, collection of over 123 works by Botero plus a remarkable collection of modern art. The Candelaria, old colonial neighborhood with lively rumba houses. The Cerro de Monserrate Hill (3160 m), to enjoy panoramic views of the city. Zipaquirá, (50 km away), an underground cathedral, rebuilt like the one from 1954 that was carved inside a salt mine. The churches, almost all dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, in Hispanic-Moorish style. Maloka, interactive science and technology center. Guatavita Lagoon, mythical lake linked to the legend of El Dorado. Botanical Garden, (Tel. +571 437 7060). 200 km away, Villa de Leyva, splendid colonial town founded in 1572 and declared a National Monument. Hotels: Hostería Duruelo, Hotel Plaza Mayor or El Molino de Mesopotamia. Bogotá is Colombia’s top destination for congresses, conventions, and specialized fairs. It has a total of 193 meeting rooms (from 15 to 1,300 delegates) to host every type of event. The two most important facilities are the Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada Convention Center and Corferias, located in the heart of the industrial zone. The offer is complemented by Hotel Tequendama Intercontinental with its Auditorium, the Compensar Auditorium, and the Salitre Business Center of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, in the nearby department of Boyacá, on the shores of a lake, is the Paipa Hotel with its Congress Center. In Bogotá there are 19 luxury hotels and 10 first-class hotels, totaling about 4,051 rooms.
Transportation: “El Dorado” International Airport, Bogotá’s only airport, is served from Italy via Paris (Air France), and via Madrid (Avianca, Iberia or Air Comet). Flag carrier AVIANCA.
Upon leaving the country, a fee of about USD $33.00 is paid at the airport. The taxi ride from the airport to downtown lasts about 35 minutes and costs about 15,000 pesos or €5.
Climate: Bogotá is located at an altitude of 2640 meters above sea level. Average temperature: 14°C. The minimum ranges between 5 and 8°, and maximum is 20.9°C. The driest months are January, February, December, March. The rainiest are May, April, June, October.