Palacio de Justicia

Bogotá

LoginSave

On the northern side of the plaza, this massive, rather styleless edifice serves as the seat of the Supreme Court.

It's seen its troubles. The first court building, erected in 1921 on the corner of Calle 11 and Carrera 6, was burnt down by a mob during El Bogotazo in 1948. A modern building was then constructed here, but in 1985 it was taken by M-19 guerrillas and gutted by fire in a fierce 28-hour offensive by the army in an attempt to reclaim it. The new building was designed in a completely different style.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Bogota , Colombia - February 24, 2017 : Museo del Oro gold museum in Bogota capital city of Colombia South America; Shutterstock ID 650281423

    Museo del Oro

    0.31 MILES

    Bogotá's most famous museum and one of the most fascinating in South America, the Gold Museum contains more than 55,000 pieces of gold and other materials…

  • BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - OCTOBER 22, 2015: Interior of the Botero Museum. The art collection donated by Colombian master artist Botero is considered the most important donation in the Country's history. ; Shutterstock ID 337708817; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; GL account no.: 56530; Netsuite department name: Online Design; Full Product or Project name including edition: Digital Content/Sights

    Museo Botero

    0.22 MILES

    Even if you've never heard of Fernando Botero, you'll probably recognize some of his highly distinctive paintings of oversized (read: chubby) characters,…

  • Colombia, Bogota, 16th century Iglesia de San Francisco, Bogota's Oldest Restored Church, Intersections of Avendia Jimenez and Carrera Septima

    Iglesia de San Francisco

    0.26 MILES

    Built between 1557 and 1621, the Church of San Francisco is Bogotá's oldest surviving church. In the atmospherically dark interior, with its extravagant…

  • Catedral de Sal

    Catedral de Sal

    29.19 MILES

    Zipaquirá's stunning Catedral de Sal, 190m underground, was carved by removing 250,000 tons of salt; the resulting space is cinematically lit and packs a…

  • Plaza de Bolívar

    Plaza de Bolívar

    0.06 MILES

    The usual place to start discovering Bogotá is the giant concrete Plaza de Bolívar, the heart of the original town. What it lacks in green foliage it…

  • Colección de Arte

    Colección de Arte

    0.2 MILES

    Most of Banco de la República's permanent art collection, which features 800 pieces by 250 different artists spread over 16 exhibition halls at two…

  • Bogota, Colombia: Presidential Palace

    Casa de Nariño

    0.27 MILES

    On the south side of Plaza de Bolívar, beyond the Capitolio Nacional and reached via Carreras 8 or 7, this is Colombia's neoclassical presidential…

  • Museo Nacional

    Museo Nacional

    1.24 MILES

    Housed in the expansive, Greek-cross-shaped building called El Panóptico (designed as a prison by English architect Thomas Reed in 1874), the Museo…

View more attractions

Nearby Bogotá attractions

2. Plaza de Bolívar

0.06 MILES

The usual place to start discovering Bogotá is the giant concrete Plaza de Bolívar, the heart of the original town. What it lacks in green foliage it…

3. Catedral Primada

0.07 MILES

This neoclassical cathedral stands on the site where the first Mass may have been celebrated after Bogotá was founded in 1538 (some historians argue that…

4. Edificio Liévano

0.08 MILES

On the western side of the plaza, this French-style building is now home to the alcaldía (mayor's office). The building was erected between 1902 and 1905.

5. Capilla del Sagrario

0.08 MILES

This small baroque cathedral has more to see than its bigger brother next door, the Catedral Primada, including six large paintings by Gregorio Vásquez.

6. Capitolio Nacional

0.11 MILES

On the southern side of the plaza stands this neoclassical seat of congress. It was begun in 1847 but, due to numerous political uprisings, not completed…

8. Iglesia de San Ignacio

0.14 MILES

The Jesuits began this iconic church in 1610 and, although opened for worship in 1635, it was not completed until their expulsion in 1767. It was the…