Silva Poetry House, Poetry museum in La Candelaria, Colombia

Silva Poetry House occupies the house in La Candelaria where José Asunción Silva spent the last five years of his life. Since 1986 it has held a library and sound archive devoted to poetry, an auditorium, a bookshop and rooms for poetry-writing workshops. Photographs of the poet and objects donated by his family hang in its corridors.

José Asunción Silva lived in this house during the last five years of his life. On May 24, 1986, President Belisario Betancur founded the Casa de Poesía Silva there as a private non-profit foundation, and in 1995 the house was declared a National Monument of Colombia. María Mercedes Carranza directed it from 1986 until her death in 2003; the lawyer and writer Pedro Alejo Gómez took over in 2004.

The house runs poetry-creation, writing and spelling workshops for adults, young people and children, and hosts events such as "La poesía tiene la palabra", "Los alzados en almas" and "Descanse en paz la guerra". It also offers guided visits for schools, the elderly and blind visitors, and a "poesía a la carta" service. Its annual magazine Casa Silva publishes essays and research on the poet.

The location in La Candelaria makes it accessible by foot from other historic landmarks in Bogotá, and the spaces inside are clearly arranged for visitors to navigate. Checking ahead about scheduled programs or guided tours can enhance your visit and provide better context for understanding what you see in each room.

It houses the only bookstore in Colombia dedicated solely to poetry from around the world, reflecting how deeply this literary form matters in the country. Additionally, the venue awards the prestigious José Asunción Silva prize, which recognizes poets for their lifetime contributions to the art.