Plaza de Bolívar is the main square of Manizales, on Carrera 22 with Calle 21 in the historic center. The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary stands on one side and the Caldas government buildings sit around it, so the square makes a good first stop in the city. The centerpiece is the Bolívar Cóndor, a bronze of Simón Bolívar with the head of a condor. Cafés and restaurants line the edges, and the square is a good place to sit and watch the city go by.
The square and its buildings
Plaza de Bolívar sits on Carrera 22 with Calle 21, in the historic center. It is a large pedestrian square, so you can walk its full length without traffic.
The square is bordered by the Caldas government building and the Palace of Justice. Manizales is also the seat of the Caldas state, which explains the administrative buildings around the square.
The city has a second main plaza, Parque Caldas, a couple of blocks away. People use both in the afternoon and evening to sit, chat and shop.
The cathedral
The official name is Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manizales. It is neo-Gothic and reaches 113 meters high, and its stained-glass windows cover about 9,150 square feet. The gold canopy inside is one of its best-known features.
This is the third church built on the site. The first, made of mud, wood and stone between 1854 and 1869, measured 64 by 15 meters. It proved unstable and was demolished in 1886.
The tower can be climbed for views over the city.
The Bolívar Cóndor
The bronze in the middle of the plaza was made by Colombian artist Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt. It shows Simón Bolívar, a central figure in South American history, with the head of a condor.
The square shares its name with the main square in Bogotá, but the statue here is the piece that draws attention.
Murals and other sculptures
Two Botero murals decorate the square, and they repay a closer look after you have seen the statue. The Arenas Betancourt sculpture is also worth time, especially if you walk the square slowly rather than crossing it once.
Visiting the square
The square is open at all hours, so early or late visits are possible. Festivals and events take place here through the year, and street performances are common when the crowds gather.
The entrance and parking lot are wheelchair accessible, and the square is suitable for children. Cafés and restaurants are close by for a break between sights.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is the square open all day?
Yes. Plaza de Bolívar is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
What is the statue in the square?
It is the Bolívar Cóndor, a bronze by Colombian artist Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt. It shows Simón Bolívar with the head of a condor.
Is the square wheelchair accessible?
The entrance and the parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
How long do you need at the square?
Allow 1 to 2 hours to see the square, the cathedral and the tower.
Where is Plaza de Bolívar?
It is on Carrera 22 with Calle 21, in the historic center of Manizales.
