It has been the main protagonist and spectator of the city's existence. In the area, stretching from 7th Street to Avenida Jiménez, between Avenida Circunvalar and Carrera 8,  most of the attractions of historical and cultural interest, largely belonging to the colonial era, are concentrated. This rich heritage includes numerous churches, museums, houses, plazas and buildings of architectural and urban interest. By tradition, the branches of government of the Nation and the city have their headquarters there.

The neighborhood of La Candelaria, located in the eastern sector of the Historic Center, preserves the memory of the little town that was the beginning of the great metropolis.  Today this sector hosts museums,  also interesting churches. Cultural life is intense: its streets, plazas  are the spaces in which they develop multiple artistic and popular tradition.

At the historic center there are many universities such as Externado de Colombia, La Salle, Gran Colombia, Universidad Autónoma, Universidad Libre and Rosario: cultural institutions such as Gilberto Alzate Avendaño, Rafael Pombo, Corporación La Candelaria, Casa de Poesía Silva, the Colombian Anthropology and History Institute, among many others.

The institutional sector of the Historic Center, located at the bottom of the zone, is characterized by grouping the buildings that host the various organs of national government and the District Capital: the Presidency and the Congress, the Supreme Justice Court  and the Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá. The geographical center is Plaza Bolivar.

It was declared a National Monument in 1963.