MUSEO NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA

This fortress was built around 1850 to house a prison. The building now occupied by the National Museum of Colombia was originally rebuilt on the site of Cundinamarca's former central penitentiary. Witness to the country's many social, economic and political transformations, the site was reinvested in 1942: transformed into a museum, it has since housed the collections of the National Museum (founded in 1823): it is considered the oldest museum in the country and one of the oldest in America. It was originally housed in the now-defunct Botanical House. For over two centuries now, the museum nicknamed "El Panopticon" has been dedicated to preserving and disseminating evidence of the country's cultural values. Panopticon" is a Greek word meaning "all-seeing", and has been used to designate a certain type of modern prison building. The museum's permanent collection comprises over 28,000 pieces, bearing witness to the country's history and heritage, from pre-Columbian times to the present day. The works are well displayed, but you should allow at least 3 hours for the visit. The temporary exhibitions are also of high quality. In 2023, the National Museum celebrated its bicentenary: 200 years of a museographic adventure that has attempted to consolidate a national narrative still under construction today.