Bogota skyline set against the mountain range



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Mayor of the Month
Mayor of Bogotá (06/2012)



City Mayors reports news from towns and cities around the world. Worldwide | Elections | North America | Latin America | Europe | Asia | Africa |


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City Mayors reports urban environmental developments and examines the challenges faced by cities worldwide. More


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City Mayors reports on developments in urban society and behaviour and reviews relevant research. More


City Mayors invites readers to write about the people in their cities. More


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City Mayors lists and features urban events, conferences and conventions aimed at urban decision makers and those with an interst in cities worldwide. More



City Mayors deals with urban transport issues in developed and developing countries and features the world’s greatest metro systems. More


City Mayors examines education issues and policies affecting children and adults in urban areas. More


City Mayors investigates health issues affecting urban areas with an emphasis on health in cities in developing countries. More


City Mayors reports on how business developments impact on cities and examines cooperation between cities and the private sector. More


City Mayors examines the contributions history and culture make to urban society and environment. More


City Mayors examines the importance of urban tourism to city economies. More


City Mayors questions those who govern the world’s cities and talks to men and women who contribute to urban society and environment. More


City Mayors profiles national and international organisations representing cities as well as those dealing with urban issues. More


City Mayors reports on major national and international sporting events and their impact on cities. More


City Mayors lists cities and city organisations, profiles individual mayors and provides information on hundreds of urban events. More


City Mayors reports news from towns and cities around the world. Worldwide | Elections | North America | Latin America | Europe | Asia | Africa |


City Mayors ranks the world’s largest, best as well as richest cities and urban areas. It also ranks the cities in individual countries, and provides a list of the capital cities of some 200 sovereign countries. More


City Mayors profiles city leaders from around the world. More


City Mayors describes the history, architecture and politics of the greatest city halls in the world. More


Mayors from The Americas, Europe. Asia, Australia and Africa compete for the World Mayor Award. More


Use
Mayor Monitor to rate the performance of mayors from across the world More


In your opinion: Praise Criticise. Write


City Mayors reports political events, analyses the issues and depicts the main players. More


City Mayors describes and explains the structures and workings of local government in Europe, The Americas, Asia, Australia and Africa. More


City Mayors deals with economic and investment issues affecting towns and cities. More


City Mayors describes and explains financial issues affecting local government. More


City Mayors reports urban environmental developments and examines the challenges faced by cities worldwide. More


City Mayors reports on and discusses urban development issues in developed and developing countries. More


City Mayors reports on developments in urban society and behaviour and reviews relevant research. More


City Mayors invites readers to write about the people in their cities. More


City Mayors examines city brands and marketing. More


City Mayors lists and features urban events, conferences and conventions aimed at urban decision makers and those with an interst in cities worldwide. More



City Mayors deals with urban transport issues in developed and developing countries and features the world’s greatest metro systems. More


City Mayors examines education issues and policies affecting children and adults in urban areas. More


City Mayors investigates health issues affecting urban areas with an emphasis on health in cities in developing countries. More


City Mayors reports on how business developments impact on cities and examines cooperation between cities and the private sector. More


City Mayors examines the contributions history and culture make to urban society and environment. More


City Mayors examines the importance of urban tourism to city economies. More


City Mayors questions those who govern the world’s cities and talks to men and women who contribute to urban society and environment. More


City Mayors profiles national and international organisations representing cities as well as those dealing with urban issues. More


City Mayors reports on major national and international sporting events and their impact on cities. More


City Mayors lists cities and city organisations, profiles individual mayors and provides information on hundreds of urban events. More


Bogotá City Hall
By Gregor Gosciniak and Theodor Berghausen

31 October 2007: The city hall of Colombia’s capital, Bogota, is, as it is common in most Latin American cities, situated in the city’s central square. The heart of the old town is called Plaza de Bolívar, where a mix of different architectural styles can be found. The city hall faces some of the most important buildings of the country, such as the presidential palace, the palace of justice, the old congress building and the magnificent cathedral.

The city hall, which is also known as Edificio de Líevano, takes over the whole western side of the square, replacing the Galerías de Arrubla which burnt down in 1902. The architect of the city hall was the Frenchman Gastón Lelarge. He was commissioned to realise the ideas of Julián Lobana, then Mayor of Bogota. The design was influenced by the contemporary vogue of French architecture turning away from the classical Spanish colonial buildings of those days.

The building has a squared ground area, is three storeys high and is crowned by two immense mansards. It is built up on massive square columns, which form a collonade open to the public. Unlike with other governmental buildings, the public entrance is not at the front of the building but somewhat hidden inside the collonade. The main mansard was removed during modification works in 1974.

Another smaller building, built between 1927 and 1931 by Alberto Manrique Martín, is incorporated in the Edificio de Líevano. It prodrudes with a central patio, an ornamented façade made out of stone in a neoclassical style. Just outside city hall remaining tracks from the city’s old tramway can still be found. The area surrounding main square and city hall is a pedestrian zone where many gatherings, concerts and other events are held throughout the year.

Today the Edificio de Líevano is the work place of socialist mayor Samuel Moreno, elected in October 2007 after popular former Mayor Luis Eduardo Garzon, nicknamed “Lucho”, decided not to run for a second term. During the administrations of his predecessors, Bogotá has undergone a massive improvement in cleanliness, transport and security as well as successfully reviving the historic centre of the city.

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