Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé

Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé is a private Catholic pre-school, primary, secondary school, and college-preparatory school, colonial of Plateresque style building, located in the Santa Fe district of Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia. The co-educational school was founded on 27 September 1604 by the Archbishop of Bogota Bartolomé Lobo Guerrero and the Jesuits José Dadey, Martín de Funes, Juan Bautista Coluccini, Martín de Torres, Bernabé de Rojas, and Diego Sánchez. The school is managed by the Society of Jesus.

Sometimes called the National College of Saint Bartholomew, the College of Saint Bartholomew, and the College of the Society of Jesus, the school is the oldest Colombian school in continuous operation, with a 400-year history since its founding in 1604. The Pontifical Xaverian University in the colony grew out of it in 1623. At St. Bartholomew, in 1826, the Central University of the Republic was founded, predecessor of the National University of Colombia, which brought together the National Library of Colombia, the College of San Bartolomé, and the university itself. It has been administered sometimes by the State and sometimes by the Jesuits, in whose hands it is today.

Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé, throughout its long history has made significant contribution to Colombian society, particularly during the independence process. Many of its students and alumni played key roles in the struggle for emancipation. Twenty eight presidents of Colombia have graduated from the school, among other figures of national importance. In 2016 the school had approximately 1500 students.

Its baccalaureate building is a cultural and national monument by Decree 1584 of 11 August 1975, and is located diagonally across from the southeast corner of Bolivar Square in Bogota. This building along with the Church of St.Ignatius and the Museum of Colonial Art in Bogota are part of the Jesuit block, which has been under restoration by the Society of Jesus and the Colombian Ministry of Culture.