Lourdes Square

This beautiful place, located on Carrera 13 between Carreras 11 and 13 in the Chapinero district, dates back to 1886. Because of the church built there, it should be called Square of the Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Originally, the square was called Rivas Park. However, in 1920, it was renamed Plaza República Argentina. It wasn't until the mid-20th century that the area became widely recognized as Lourdes Square, which has since become a central point in Chapinero Central.

In the 1920s, the square featured a pond surrounded by flowers, with a bridge under which ducks swam. This remained until the mid-1990s, when the pond—by then converted into a swimming pool—was demolished to make way for an 8,700-square-meter public space surrounded by stores and restaurants.

Lourdes is the second-largest temple in Bogotá, after the Primatial Cathedral. The Vatican recognized it in 2016 as a Basilica, and its neo-Gothic-Moorish style structure gives the place a very special style. Some people compare it to famous landmarks such as the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, the Cathedral of Milan, or even the church of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

In the morning and afternoon, the Square is a great place to meet friends, sit and chat, enjoy a coffee, or eat an oblea. At night, it transforms into a vibrant area where you can enjoy genres like Rock, Salsa, and Protesta. Nearby attractions include the Astor Plaza Theater and the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá Chapinero.