Colombia's presidential palace to become museum as president governs from elsewhere

Bogotá is experiencing an atypical day as the Casa de Nariño, the presidential seat for almost half a century, operates with reduced security and fewer officials. President Abelardo de la Espriella has decided not to use the palace, opting instead to convert it into a museum.

Tourists in downtown Bogotá found a more relaxed atmosphere around the presidential palace, with reduced security checks allowing for quicker entry. Mexican tourist Carolina Ibarra described the scene as "very calm" and thought the idea of turning the historic building into a museum would be "great" for public access.

De la Espriella aims to decentralize the government, establishing alternate presidential offices in Barranquilla, Medellín, and Cali. For his Bogotá visits, he will work from the Palacio de San Carlos, the former presidential seat now housing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, his plan to work from San Carlos on Monday was disrupted by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the country, causing casualties and damage, and forcing him to change his agenda to visit Quibdó.

The Casa de Nariño, built on the site of Antonio Nariño's birthplace, has served as the presidential residence since 1980, housing ten leaders, including the most recent, Gustavo Petro. Visitors and locals have mixed opinions on the palace's future, with some supporting the museum conversion.