The Place Where it Seems Anything Can Happen

Carrera Septima is a popular walking street in Bogotá where many gather to either be a part of the craziness or where many wander to see what its all about. It seems as though you can encounter just about anything and even join in. Without fail you are sure to see moonwalking Michael Jackson, place bets on guinea pig races, eat lechona (a full roasted pig) being sold out of the back of a car, and witness at least one amateur circus act. Along with this array of activities, you can also sing along to the variety of musical performers who all seem to have made the headlines of Septima or shop the various street vendors who seem to be selling just about anything they have found or no longer have use for.

All gathered here on Septima, Bogotá comes alive. You see its adventurous spirit, its spontaneous nature, and its vibrant culture. Bogotá has come alive with its people and the people of Colombia have gathered here from all parts of the country. Walking in this street you can experience how diverse Colombia actually is. On one corner you can come across a band playing music from the coast, or on another an indigenous family selling their handmade jewelry, or you can even join a crowd that's gathered just to watch a woman showing off her salsa skills.

However, all of this is new to Septima. It wasn’t always a designated space for entertainment. At the beginning of the 20th century, the street was operated exclusively by the tram system, until 1948, when the street was fully converted to a pedestrian walkway. And even after this time, it wasn’t always the safest street to walk down, as few spots were dangerous and prone to looting. Nonetheless, in time this sparked the renovation and renewal of Carrera Septima and the city transformed and developed it into a public space for staging political, religious, and recreational activities.

It has only become what it is today in recent years, but has proven to be an important spot in Bogota. Home to a variety of national monuments, theatres, restaurants, markets, and churches, it is the city’s most diverse street. Carrera Septima represents how far Colombia has come in such a short period of time and just how determined Colombia is to develop.

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