The name in Spanish is "Catedral primada de Colombia", it is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada in august 6 -1538, the same day of the foundation of Bogotá with the name of "Nuestra señora de la esperanza"("Our lady of the hope").
In that time it was only a small chapel with straw roof where the first mass was gave it by Fray Domingo de las Casas.
In 1565 Fray Juan de los Barrios, he brought the first stone of the new cathedral, being able to get the whole necessary resources to begin the construction. The work begins in 1572 and it concludes in 1590. As consequence of some earthquakes and the step of the time, the religious men takes the decision of demolishing it partially.
At the beginning of 1800 through the bishop from Colombia in that then Francisco Caicedo, he gives the reconstruction of the cathedral to the friar Domingo Petrés, architect influenced by the neoclassical tendency in that time of the history and that determine the style of the reconstruction of the Church.
In 1811 dies Domingo Petrés. Nicolas León recapture his work and end it.
From the year 1942 enhance and improvement works have been made, The cathedral has a bigger altar and 10 chapels in honor to la Virgen del Carmen, la Virgen Dolorosa, San José, las Benditas Animas, el Sagrado Corazón, San Pedro and Santa Isabel de Hungria where are Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada´s remains.
Schedule:Monday to Friday 8:30. 14:00 and from 16:00 At 18:00
Saturday: 8:30. 14:00
Domingo: 8:30. 14:00.
Saturday: 8:30. 14:00
Domingo: 8:30. 14:00.
Address: Cr 7 10-80 Bogotá
Tel:(0057) (1) 3 41 19 54
Photo: Simone Carrocino
