SIMON BOLIVAR

Bolivar is known as El Libertador – the liberator – and considered a national hero of many South American countries for leading the South American movement of independence against Spanish colonial power in what is today Venezula, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

He was president of Gran Colombia (also called Republic of Colombia; 1819–1830, including Venezuela, Ecuador and New Granada (Colombia and Panama)dictator of Peru, and president of the newly created Bolivia which is named after him. Visit his country house in the foothills of Monserratemountain to learn about famous liberator Simon Bolívar and discover artifacts relating to his life. Dating back to the late 17th century, the house was gifted to Simon Bolivar by Colombia’s newly independent government in appreciation of his help in the battle for independence. Bolivar used the house as a summer residence between 1820 and 1830. It was later used as a brewery, hospital and school before being turned into a museum.