The historic cloister of San Nicolás de Tolentino, located in the heart of the historic center of Bogotá, is preparing for a new stage in its rich history: to become an Art and Culture Center at the service of the community. 
Thanks to an agreement between the Order of Augustinian Recollects and the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID), this emblematic space will be restored and revitalized with the aim of becoming a cultural bridge between Colombia and Spain.
In February 2023, the Director of AECID, Antón Leis, and the Prior Provincial, Fr. José David Niño Gómez, accompanied by the Mayor of Bogota, Claudia López; the Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs, Laura Gil; the Vice Minister of Regional Development and Heritage, Adriana Molano; and the Spanish Ambassador to Colombia, Joaquín de Arístegui, signed an agreement by which the Order temporarily ceded the convent of Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria to the AECID for its rehabilitation and subsequent use as the headquarters of the future Cultural Center of Spain in Bogota (CCEB).
The rehabilitation of this important historic building not only has a heritage value, but will also allow its sustained reuse in the service of society.
The agreement, formalized in the form of a gratuitous bailment, will allow AECID to restore and adapt the convent’s spaces. This project has the support of the Colombian Ministry of Culture and the Mayor’s Office of Bogota, which have highlighted the importance of the cultural cooperation promoted by the Spanish Embassy. The rehabilitation of this important historic building is not only of heritage value, but will also enable its sustainable reuse in the service of society.
The convent, which includes the entire Cloister of San Nicolás de Tolentino, occupies an area of 5,400 square meters divided into two cloisters of two floors each, interconnected with each other. Its privileged location in the historic center of Bogotá, next to important cultural centers, universities, monuments, ministries and the Palacio de Nariño, reinforces the project’s potential as a cultural engine in the city.
The cloister, over the centuries, has been a pillar for the development of the oldest neighborhood in Bogota and a symbol of the evangelizing and educational mission of the Augustinian Recollects.
Built by the Augustinian Recollects in 1635, the cloister is an invaluable testimony of the architectural and spiritual legacy of the Order. Over the centuries, it has been a pillar for the development of Bogotá’s oldest neighborhood and a symbol of the evangelizing and educational mission of the Augustinian Recollects. The restoration and opening of the new Cultural Center of Spain in Bogota represents a unique opportunity to renew that legacy, adapting it to modern times while preserving the history housed within its walls.
“The restoration of this emblematic cloister will strengthen the culture of Colombians, further strengthening the ties that unite us with Spain.”
Fr. José David Niño, Prior Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria, underlined the relevance of this project both for the preservation of the historical heritage and for the strengthening of the cultural identity of Colombians. “The restoration of this emblematic cloister will strengthen the culture of Colombians, further strengthening the ties that unite us with Spain,” he said, stressing the importance of cultural dialogue in which the Order has played an active role for centuries.
Last October 8, the studies and designs were signed with the Seminario La Candelaria consortium, and the supervision was signed with INCGROUP, the result of a rigorous selection process among 18 participating companies.
“This center is a historic commitment fulfilled, one more step in strengthening the ties between two sister nations.”
The future Cultural Center is projected as a modern and vibrant space dedicated to artistic and cultural exchange between Colombia and Spain. According to Ambassador Joaquín de Arístegui, “this center is a historical commitment fulfilled, one more step to strengthen the ties between two sister nations”. For the Order of Augustinian Recollects, participation in this project is not only an act of heritage conservation, but also an expression of its mission of service to society, facilitating spaces that promote understanding and the integral development of people.
The architectural complex of the convent of La Candelaria, which covers 7,000 square meters distributed in two connected cloisters, will house both the new cultural center and the church of Our Lady of La Candelaria, which will remain under the management of the Augustinian Recollects for religious activities. This coexistence between the cultural and religious spheres reflects the Order’s commitment to the integration of the spiritual and the cultural, promoting an environment where history, art and faith can coexist in harmony.
The Augustinian Recollects, custodians of this place for centuries, renew their commitment to the community, offering a space where culture and spirituality meet to enrich society.
The transformation of the cloister of San Nicolás de Tolentino into a Center for Art and Culture is a decisive step in the revitalization of the historical heritage of Bogotá and an invitation to all Colombians to rediscover its history and to build together new bridges of understanding and collaboration. The Augustinian Recollects, custodians of this place for centuries, renew their commitment to the community, offering a space where culture and spirituality meet to enrich society. With this project, it is hoped that the cloister will become a vibrant meeting point for artists, thinkers and civil society, fostering the creation of new cultural opportunities for all.