Next to the cathedral is the colonial Government Palace, also known as the Palacio Quemado (burned palace). Originally La Paz’s City Hall and now the office of Bolivia’s president, the building has been burned eight times. Every Thursday at 9am, you can take 15-minute guided tours in Spanish.
Outside the Government Palace, you will probably notice guards in red uniforms. During the Pacific War (1879-84), when Bolivia lost its seacoast to Chile, the soldiers wore red uniforms. Today, these uniforms send the message that Chile must return that land to Bolivia.