Bogotá is the capital district of Colombia and the country's most populated city. It is the most important political, financial, educational, cultural city in the country. It is located at an altitude of 2640masl on a plateau known as the Savanna of Bogotá on the eastern range of the Andean Mountains.
It was founded on August 6, 1538 originally named Santa Fe by the 'Conquistador' Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada who arrived in pursuit of 'El Dorado' gold legend and defeated the native Chibcha in Bacatá, which meant capital of the Zipa confederation. In 1717 the kingdom of New Granada was established here, and in 1819 Simon Bolivar chose it as the capital of the Grand Colombia
Today Bogotá has a population of around 8 million and is divided into different areas including the historic centre 'La Candelaria', the downtown business district and several modern and prosperous suburbs. There are too many things to do and see in the city to list here but among the highlights are the colonial style buildings of La Candelaria; the Gold Museum with its unique collection of pre-Colombian gold work; the view from the Monastery of Monserrate which overlooks the city and the Botanic gardens which is like a miniature national park.
