The 7 Best Museums Around Colombia

The Botero Museum is located in the La Candelaria neighbourhood of Bogota, Colombia’s capital. La Candelaria is the city’s historic centre with colonial architecture and brightly coloured buildings. The Botero Museum is named after the famous Colombian artist, Fernando Botero, who donated 208 pieces of art to the museum: 123 of his own pieces and 85 pieces by other artists including works by Picasso and Monet. Situated in a two-storey colonial whitewashed house this museum has a garden in the centre and a great view of Bogota’s Monserrate from the top floor.

The National Museum or Museo Nacional is located in Bogota. It is the oldest museum in Colombia and contains over 20,000 artifacts and objects ranging from 10,000 BC to the present day. There are 17 exhibition rooms featuring permanent and temporary exhibitions, to reflect the history and culture of all Colombia’s people.

Bogota’s Gold Museum or Museo de Oro, is located in the city’s historic centre and is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the city. The Museum covers two floors and contains over 55,000 individual pieces of gold, many of which have been crafted into necklaces, ornaments and sacred items, by Colombia’s indigenous communities. The museum contains gold found in various locations over Colombia, and is arranged by both date and community. The museum displays information about Colombia’s indigenous past including the story of El Dorado.

The Museum of Antioquia is an art museum located in Medellin next to Botero Plaza. The museum contains artworks by Botero and Pedro Nel Gomez, as well as pre-Colombian art, photographs and sculptures. The museum also has exhibits showcasing Colombian’s history and the history of art in the country.

The Museum of the Caribbean or Museo del Caribe is located in Barranquilla and showcases the country’s cultural Caribbean roots. The exhibits feature music festivals, literature, indigenous culture and the wildlife of the region. The museum also showcases pieces of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s work.