Museo Santa Clara — Attraction in Bogota, Capital District

A Hidden Baroque Masterpiece in the Heart of Bogotá

Visiting the Museo Santa Clara was an absolutely enchanting experience! Nestled in a beautifully preserved 17th-century church, this museum is a treasure trove of Colombian colonial art and architecture.

From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by walls adorned with an astonishing array of over 148 paintings and sculptures. The intricate gold leaf altarpieces and the ornate, hand-carved wooden ceiling are truly breathtaking. Every inch of the interior is covered with rich artwork, making it one of the most decorated churches I've ever seen.

Highlights:

Artistic Splendor: The Baroque-style frescoes and religious artworks provide a deep dive into Colombia's historical artistry.

Historical Significance: Informative plaques (available in both Spanish and English) offer fascinating insights into the church's history and the pieces on display.

Serene Ambiance: Despite being in the city center, the museum offers a peaceful retreat where you can reflect and admire the...

The Museo Santa Clara is located in the historic centre of Bogota and has as its headquarters a former Clarian church, a unique standing fragment from what was the Royal Convent of Santa Clara. This museum offers an immersion in the convent culture of the 17th and 18th centuries through its architecture and the varied collection of altarpieces, paintings, sculptures, and murals. It is accompanied by Johanna of St. Stephen, an interactive guide to the museum. With her, and thanks to various touch screens, visitors get to visit the crypt, the bell tower and the vaulted ceiling, as well as seeing the paintings that are mounted in the highest areas of the museum preserving the spatial configuration of the colonial period. The enjoyment and knowledge of the colonial heritage enter into dialogue with the temporary exhibitions of contemporary art that the museum opens annually in order to update the perspective on the past according to artistic interpretations from...

Remnants of the 17th-century Poor Clares’ Church and Convent. A very well preserved sanctuary for the rediscovery of colonial-era Baroque architecture and art.

Like most churches built during this period, it is a place in which one’s eyes can’t find focus since the moment you step foot in the 140-art-pieces museum, formerly dedicated to enclosed nuns.

Don’t miss the murals and the 950 hand-carved, gold-foiled wooden flowers covering the ceiling.

This museum is one of my favorite places in the city and is usually not crowded, the time necessary for enjoying the place will vary based on your appreciation for detail, but overall is a small building convenient for short and...