Visit Bogotá’s Gold Museum to see one of the most important collections of pre-Hispanic gold in the world. Delve into the lost world of Colombia’s indigenous civilisations and learn about the role that metalworking played in these remarkable societies. Some 50,000 different artefacts are housed in this expansive museum, over 30,000 of which were made with gold. The museum is home to a range of permanent exhibitions, as well as some temporary expositions that explore such topics as the role of music in indigenous cultures.
Explore the museum on your own or opt for an English-language guided tour, available every day from Tuesday through Saturday. The Gold Museum is home to a series of exhibits spread out over multiple floors that offer an insight into both metalwork technology and the ancient cultures that so famously valued it.
At the People and Gold exhibition, you will find a range of fascinating displays concerned with the use of metals (and especially gold) in Colombia’s pre-colonial civilisations. Browse through gold masks and jewellery dating as far back as 200 B.C., and look at ceramics that were made between 1500 B.C. and 100 B.C.
Continue on to the Cosmology and Symbolism exhibition to learn about the beliefs and practices of Colombia’s ancient civilisations. This section’s wide-ranging display includes ceremonial crowns, hunting objects, funerary urns and masks, and a range of handcrafted flora and fauna artefacts.
The museum is open every day of the week except Monday. Entrance costs a fee, although the charge is waived for adults over 60 and children under 12. It is free to enter on Sundays, but this offer usually draws large crowds to the museum. Check the official website in advance for up-to-date information on opening hours and the tour schedule.
The Gold Museum is situated just north of the historic La Candelaria neighbourhood, easily accessible by public buses or the subway. It is also just a short walk away from numerous other major Bogotá attractions, including the Botero Museum and the Plaza de Bolívar.
