National Museum of Colombia
Museo Nacional de Colombia
A national museum housed in a former star-shaped prison, systematically presenting Colombia's history and art from the pre-Columbian era to the present.
The museum was founded in 1823 and is one of the oldest museums in the Americas. Its building is a 19th-century stone prison designed on a cross-shaped plan in the panopticon style, and its corridor and cell layout remains recognizable. The roughly 20,000 objects in its collection cover archaeology, ethnology, colonial art and modern painting, including works by Botero. It is open about 9:00–17:00 Tuesday to Saturday and 10:00–16:00 on Sunday, and the permanent exhibitions are free. It is located on the northern section of Seventh Avenue in the city center, a short walk from the TransMilenio 'Museo Nacional' station.
Opening hours
Tue–Sat 09:00–17:00; Sun 10:00–16:00; closed Mon
Nearby sights
- Colpatria Tower
- Museum of Modern Art of Bogotá (MAMBO)
- Central Cemetery of Bogotá
- International Emerald Museum
- Quinta de Bolívar
- Gold Museum
- Church of San Francisco
- Monserrate