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On the far north side of Bogotá is Usaquén. It’s an upscale area of the city and a top foodie destination.
I recently visited the neighborhood again after a long time away. I’ll update this post with a lot more information and photos when I have a chance. Consider it incomplete until then.
History of Usaquén
Usaquén was founded in 1539, abandoned by Spanish royal decree in 1777, and re-founded in 1846. In 1860 a battle between government troops and Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera took place there. Cipriano won the battle and took control of the country. The town was its own municipality until 1954 when it was annexed by the city of Bogotá.
Nowadays, it’s mostly inhabited by upper middle and upper class residents. It contains a golf course, shopping malls, and a beautiful colonial quarter.
The name of the district comes from the cacique Usaque. A cacique was a leader of the indigenous Muisca people of the region. In the Chibcha language, Usaque means “under the pole”.
Plaza
The heart of the neighborhood is a nice plaza which retains a few original colonial buildings. There are also lots of bars and restaurants surrounding the plaza.
Church of Santa Barbara
The most prominent building on the plaza is the Church of Santa Barbara (Iglesia de Santa Bárbara). It was built in 1665.
