The historical Centre has been the main character and witness all along city life. The area concentrates most historical and cultural attractions of interest, mainly dating from colonial times. Such valuable wealth includes numerous churches, museums, homes, plazas, small squares, and buildings of great architectural and urban interest. Traditionally, public power branches of the Nation and the city have their offices in that area. La Candelaria neighborhood, located to the east of Historical Downtown, preserves the remembrance of a small village, and was large metropolis cradle. Narrow steep streets, large houses with colonial roofs and eaves, were the cradle and home of Creole Spanish aristocracy.

The sector currently concentrates museums housing rich historical and cultural legacy. Also Shrines of interest such as Our Lady or Carmen Sanctuary and San Ignacio Church, cultural scenarios such as Colon Theatre, and theatre groups, i.e. La Candelaria, Teatro Libre and Teatro Taller de Colombia. Cultural life is intense; streets, plazas and small squares provide space for multiple artistic and popular tradition exhibitions.

Universities, such as Externado de Colombia, La Salle, Gran Colombia, Autonomous, Libre and El Rosario; cultural entities as Gilberto Alzate Avendaño and Rafael Pombo Foundations, La Candelaria Corporation, Silva Poetry Home, Colombian Anthropology and History Institute, among many other; artistic workshops, antiquaries and religious articles stores abound.

Historical Downtown institutional centre, located in the lower area, is characterized by grouping buildings used for different national government and Capital District agencies: the Presidency and Congress of the Republic, the Supreme Court of Justice and Mayor Township of Bogotá. Such buildings geographical centre, with the exception of Nariño Palace or Colombian Presidents House is Bolivar Plaza.

The sector groups religious buildings of great interest such as the Primate Cathedral of Colombia and Sagrario Chapel located on Bolívar Plaza, Conception Church and San Juan de Dios Church. Important museums for instance 20th of July Home Museum also known as the Flowerpot House in the northeast corner of the Plaza, and XIX century museums, Popular Arts and Traditions, Francisco José de Caldas Home Museum, Santa Clara Church Museum.