Historical Places
Downtown in Bogota, as many other capitals worldwide have a wide history such is the case of The Llorente’s House at the downtown also known as the Independence or The House of the Flower Vase; or Palace of Justice at downtown and Simon Bolivar’s house at downtown. Why where these three location so important and relevant not only to Bogota but to Colombia? All these places through out history have led either current people or revolutionists to encourage a change within the politic, social, and economical history of Colombia.
This is the case of the Llorente’s House at the downtown in the year 1810, July 20th. When two Criollos, called Francisco and Antonio Morales, came to the house of Mr. Jose Gonzalez Llorente, who was a prestigious Spaniard from the Spanish Colony, to ask him the favor to lend them a flower vase, which was gong to be used for the dinner to be offered to Captain Antonio Villavicencia for the Royal Army. Mr. Llorente denied lending them the flower vase as he was not friendly to the Spanish colonization. This situation caused discomfort on the Criollos as they considered themselves part of the leading society in the government . This refusal was an evidence to the Criollos that no Spaniard wanted to be considered equal to anyone who wasn’t born in Spain, causing a deep and enthusiastic feeling of independence from the Criollos side.
Simon Bolvar’s house, constructed in the year 1670 and then habited by Simon Bolivar in company Manuelita Saenz in the year 1821 to 1828, to be used as a gathering point for political means after the Independence, whose leader and promoter was Simon Bolivar. This house was, as well, the encounter point of Bolivar and Manuelita Saenz loving refugee for almost 8 years. In one of the many visits to her lover and liberty-fight mate , Manuelita Saenz, to the Santa Fe de Bogota, he was threaten to death while visiting the Colon Theatre. Manuelita alert him almost risking her life in order to save his life. This event caused Bolivar to escape far from Santa Fe de Bogota. In commemoration to this event a silver plate was engraved with this words:
"SISTE PARUMPER SPECTATOR GRADUM / SI VACAS MIRATORUS VIAM SALUTIS
QUA SESE LIBERAVIT / PATER SALVATORE PATRIAE / SIMON BOLIVAR / IN NEFANDA NOCTE SEPTEMBRINA
AN MDCCCXXVIII”
"DETENTE, ESPECTADOR, UN MOMENTO / Y MIRA EL LUGAR POR DONDE SE SALVÓ / EL PADRE Y
LIBERTADOR DE LA PATRIA / SIMÓN BOLÍVAR / EN LA NEFANDA NOCHE SEPTEMBRINA
1828"
The Palace of Justice or Courthouse, was not as relevant to the Colombian history until the event of the Capture of the Courthouse by the M19, revolutionist group from the Guerilla, in November 6th, 1985. When in an act of revolution against the government a brave and dangerous group from the Guerilla by the force took as hostages around 350 people among them were Magisters from the Courthouse, State
Counselors , employees and visitors. 11 Supreme Court Judges were killed 11 were listed as disappeared and many others were badly injured after 27 hours when the Colombian Army seized control through the main entrance of the palace in a tanker and hundreds of soldiers. It is said that those eleven people who disappeared were taken by the army to the house of Llorente and never came out anymore. This seized has been considered as an holocaust and a massacre by the Human Rights Organization, reason for which this event is worldwide known as the Courthouse Palace Holocaust.
These three events, as well as many others, had shown an urge of independence from some people or groups against the actual rulers of the time. Unfortunately, some of them were not as to be proud of, such is the case of the Seized of the Courthouse, were many innocents and important people were killed because of a lack of strategy to defend the citizens from a subversive group. On the other hand, the event of the Llorente’s House, was not planned it had a much positive result. Whilst the Bolivar’s House was an important gathering political spot from the independent groups, no fortuneless event was held in it. Many buildings in every city street has a huge and hidden history , andmost of us walked pass them without being aware what a wonderful story they carry in their walls.