Tunja
Tunja | ||
---|---|---|
Municipality and city | ||
Province Central Boyacá Province | | |
Founded | 6 August 1539 (485 Years ago) | |
Established | March 29, 1541 | |
Founded by | Gonzalo Suárez Rendón | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Mikhail Krasnov (2024-2027) | |
Area | ||
• Municipality and city | 119.7 km2 (46.2 sq mi) | |
• Urban | 21.51 km2 (8.31 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 2,820 m (9,250 ft) | |
Population (2018 census)[1] | ||
• Municipality and city | 172,548 | |
• Density | 1,400/km2 (3,700/sq mi) | |
• Urban | 163,894 | |
• Urban density | 7,600/km2 (20,000/sq mi) | |
• Metro | 243,330 | |
Demonym | Tunjano | |
Postal code | 150001-150009 | |
Area code | 57 + 8 | |
Website | http://www.tunja-boyaca.gov.co - https://www.tunjaculturayturismo.gov.co/inicio/ | |
IGAC - DANE - DIAN. |
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Muisca culture |
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History and timeline |
Tunja (Spanish pronunciation:
Tunja is a
Demographics and geography
1500 | ~200,000[3] |
1636 | 50,000[3] |
1910 | 10,000 |
1928 | 19,000 |
1951 | 27,402 |
1962 | 68,905 |
1973 | 84,013 |
1985 | 93,245 |
1993 | 101,622[4] |
2005 | 152,419[5] |
2019 | 202,939 |
Tunja has a population of 172,548 inhabitants according to the 2018 Census. 0.1% of the city is indigenous, 0.4% is black, and 99.5% is white and Mestizo.[1] It is located in central Colombia, at an elevation ranging from approximately 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) to 2,900 metres (9,500 ft). The city centre is at an elevation of 2,820 metres (9,250 ft) above sea level.
Climate
Tunja's climate is influenced by its location and altitude. At almost 3000 m it is one of the higher cities in Colombia. As a result, the city features a
Climate data for Tunja (UPTC) (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 19.75 (67.55) |
20.13 (68.23) |
19.74 (67.53) |
18.87 (65.97) |
18.09 (64.56) |
17.12 (62.82) |
16.68 (62.02) |
17.09 (62.76) |
18.09 (64.56) |
18.65 (65.57) |
19.02 (66.24) |
18.97 (66.15) |
18.52 (65.34) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.41 (45.34) |
8.23 (46.81) |
9.28 (48.70) |
9.93 (49.87) |
9.87 (49.77) |
9.26 (48.67) |
8.6 (47.5) |
8.5 (47.3) |
8.16 (46.69) |
8.69 (47.64) |
9.01 (48.22) |
8.2 (46.8) |
8.76 (47.77) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 21.2 (0.83) |
27.71 (1.09) |
57.66 (2.27) |
93.98 (3.70) |
82.57 (3.25) |
50.7 (2.00) |
50.14 (1.97) |
37.15 (1.46) |
43.09 (1.70) |
78.93 (3.11) |
80.38 (3.16) |
32.07 (1.26) |
655.58 (25.81) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 3.27 | 4.54 | 8.79 | 11.9 | 11.97 | 10.46 | 10.27 | 8.45 | 7.35 | 11.1 | 10.93 | 5.47 | 104.5 |
Source: NOAA[6] |
History
Pre-Columbian era
The earliest evidence of human population on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense has been dated to approximately 12.000 years ago. Homus Tequendama inhabited the area by 6375 BCE. Archeologists have found human skeletons including arm bones in the area. Many archaeological discoveries were found in the area of the present-day city, dated to approximately 150 BCE.
During the 1st millennium AD, the territory was inhabited by the
According to those myths, it was the brutal cacique and prophet Goranchacha who moved the capital for the northern Muisca from Ramiriquí to Tunja, then called Hunza.
Early Muisca
An era when frequent battles among
Late Muisca (1490–1539)
Saguamanchica, with 50,000 soldiers, decided on a massive attack on hoa Michuá,[9] crossing Guatavita and Chocontá, after which the Battle of Chocontá is named. Michuá dealt with him, supported by an army which doubled Saguamanchica, battling around three hours and killing both chiefs. A new hoa, Eucaneme, was installed, during the tense truce between Bacatá and Hunza.
In 1514, Eucaneme found out about the expansionist intentions of the new psihipqua Nemequene. He asked the caciques of Gámeza, Sugamuxi, Tundama and Sáchica to help him to reinforce his army. A battle was fought in Ventaquemada and, when Nemequene was about to become the victor, he was fatally wounded and his troops retreated. Iraca retracted his support and Eucaneme got a truce whose terms would end when the Spanish arrived. When Eucaneme found out the Europeans were around his lands, he decided to stay in Hunza and avoided any aggression against the invaders. He forbade under strict penalties to show the conquistadors the path to his headquarters and when he knew they were reaching him, he sent them gifts and peacemakers, hoping to stop them while he was hiding his treasures.
Hunza in Muisca history
History of the Muisca | |||||||||
Altiplano |
Muisca |
Art |
Architecture |
Astronomy |
Cuisine |
El Dorado |
Subsistence |
Women |
Conquest |
Spanish colony (1539-1811)
Spanish Discovering of Hunza (1537)
Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada parted from Santa Marta in April 1536, on the first main expedition into the Andes. His main goal was to find and conquer El Dorado. After months of traveling, he found many Muisca cacicazgos in the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. In his search, he acquired information about emerald discoveries and other treasures in Somondoco and the Llanos. On August 20, 1537, the conquerors arrived, with horses and dogs. Jiménez de Quesada arrived at the headquarters of Quemuenchatocha, finding him in a chair, dressed in gold in the same way as his companions who ran off, leaving him alone. The gold, the emeralds and the fancy fabrics were taken. This conquest took place where later the San Agustin Convent was built. Quemuenchatocha was taken to Suesca, with the hope he would reveal where he hid the rest of his treasure. He abdicated in favour of his nephew Aquiminzaque and retired to Ramiriquí where he died.[10]
Invasion of Hunza (1538-1539)
The Spanish Invasion of the territory begins when Jimenez de Quesada captures Quemuenchatocha who is succeeded in life by the young Aquiminzaque. The latter, along with his tribe were taken as an encomienda by Hernán Pérez de Quesada. The new zaque did not show belligerent in front of the Spaniards, and later himself converted to Catholicism. The continuous and numerous demands made by the Spaniards started to create discomfort among the Muisca population.
Aquiminzaque should verify his nuptials with the daughter of the cacique of
City Foundation (1539-16th Century)
The Spanish city of Tunja was founded on the lands of Quemuenchatocha, where later the convent of San Agustin was built. Founded by Captain
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2016) |
Security and living conditions
Tunja has the lowest homicide rate in Colombia and is below average in Latin America according to the report from the International Centre of the Prevention of Crime for 2010.[15][16] 2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015 makes the city one of the safest in the Americas. According to other sources, this value is four times lower than the national average.[17] Tunja is an example of a safe city.[18]
Tourism
Relevant historical and tourist sites
The streets are named according to 472[19] and Google Maps[20] nomenclatures — (C: calle), (K: carrera), (S: south), (E: east), (A: ave).
Southern Sector
English Name | Spanish Name | Address |
---|---|---|
Bridge of Boyaca | Puente de Boyacá | Rural Area (La Lajita) |
Flower Pot Monument | Los Tiestos | K14-C16 |
Mushroom Monument | Los Hongos | A Oriental |
St. Martin's Church | Iglesia de San Martín | Libertador Neighborhood |
Bullfighting arena | Plaza de Toros | K8-C13S |
Eastern Sector
English Name | Spanish Name | Address |
---|---|---|
Botanical Garden | Jardín Botánico | BTS Highway (Autopista Circunvalar BTS) |
St. Anthony's Church | Iglesia de San Antonio | San Antonio Neighborhood |
Governorate Viaduct | Viaducto Paseo de La Gobernación | BTS-A.Olímpica |
JNN Viaduct | Viaducto Jose Nepomuceno Niño | C24-Universitaria |
Downtown
English name | Spanish name | Address |
---|---|---|
Las Nieves Church and Square | Iglesia y Plazoleta de las Nieves | K10-C22 |
St. Ignatius' Church | Iglesia de San Ignacio | K10-C18 |
*St. Barbara's Church | Iglesia de Santa Bárbara | K11-C17 |
St. Dominic's Church | Iglesia de Santo Domingo | K11-C19 |
St. Laureano's Church | Iglesia de San Laureano | K9-C15 |
St. Lazarus Hill and Church | Loma e Iglesia de San Lázaro | San Lázaro Neighborhood |
St. Claire Royal Convent | Convento de Santa Clara la Real | K11-C21 |
St. Francis Church | Iglesia de San Francisco | K10-21A |
Cathedral Basilica of St. James the Apostle in Tunja[21] | Catedral Basílica Metropolitana Santiago de Tunja | Bolivar Square |
Meetinghouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
|
La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días | C12-K10 |
Our Lady of Miracles Church | Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Milagro (El Topo) | K15-C19 |
St. Augustine Cloister | Claustro de San Agustín | K9-C23 |
Cojines del Zaque | Cojines del Zaque | K4-C12 |
Republic Forest | Bosque de la República | K11-C14 |
Freedom Obelisk | Obelisco de la Libertad | K10-C14 |
City Founder Gonzalo Suárez Rendón House and Museum
|
Casa Museo del Fundador | Bolívar Square |
Juan de Castellanos' Palace and Museum | Casa Museo Juan de Castellanos | Bolívar Square |
Don Juan de Vargas' Palace and Museum | Casa Museo Don Juan de Vargas | K9-C20 |
Bolivar Square | Plaza de Bolívar | K9-C19 |
Tower Palace (Governorate Palace of Boyacá) | Palacio de la Torre | Bolívar Square K10-C20 |
Rojas Pinilla's House | Casa Cultural Rojas Pinilla | K11-C16 |
Martyr's Wall Monument | Paredón de los Mártires | K9-C14 |
La Pila del Mono's Fountain | La Pila del Mono | K9-C20 |
Royal Palace (currently a shopping mall) | Plaza Real | K14-C20 |
St. Thomas University Building | Edificio Universidad Santo Tomás | K12-C19 |
Santander Park | Parque Santander | A Colón |
Pinzón Park | Parque Pinzón | K8-C23 |
Maldonado Park | Parque Maldonado | C10-C30 |
La Esperanza Park | Parque La Esperanza | |
Hoyo del Trigo Park | Parque Hoyo del Trigo | C22-K12 |
Northern Sector
English name | Spanish name | Address |
---|---|---|
St. Agnes' Church | Iglesia de Santa Inés | C42-A Norte |
Hunzahúa Well | Pozo de Hunzahúa | A Norte, UPTC
|
Indigenous Race Monument | Monumento a la raza indígena | La Glorieta |
Campus of the Uptc and its natural reserve | Campus de la Uptc y su reserva natural | A Norte, UPTC
|
Museum of Natural History | Museo de Historia Natural | A Norte, UPTC
|
Museum of Anthropology | Museo de Antropología | A Norte, UPTC
|
The Independence Stadium | Estadio de La Independencia | A Olímpica |
Olympic Village | Villa Olímpica | A Olímpica |
Festivals
Shopping
Downtown
Main places of interest are:
- El Cid
- El Virrey
- Teatro Boyacá
- Cinema Boyacá
Shopping malls
Unicentro is a shopping center that features a Jumbo and a Cinemark Theatres among many other stores.
Viva, a brand of Shopping Centers of Grupo Éxito.
Traditional markets
- Plaza de Mercado del Norte
- Plaza de Mercado del Sur
Education
Relative to its small size, Tunja has been important in providing education. A large part of its population are students between high school and university.
Tunja has a considerable number of colleges, among these is the College of Boyacá, the first public school in the territories of Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama and Colombia, established when these countries were part of Gran Colombia. It was founded on 20 October 1822 by Vice President Francisco de Paula Santander. Among the most important schools are:
- Colegio de Boyacá
- Institucion Educativa San Jeronimo Emiliani
- Colegio Salesiano Maldonado
- Colegio INEM Carlos Arturo Torres
- Colegio de la Presentación
- Gimnasio Campestre del Norte.
- Colegio Municipal Silvino Rodríguez
- Escuela Normal Superior Santiago de Tunja.
- Escuela Normal Femenina "Leonor Álvarez Pinzón"
- Colegio Los Angeles
- Colegio Militar Juan José Rondón
- Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Rosario
- Colegio Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
- Colegio Andino
- Colegio American School Saint Frances
- Country Bilingual School
Universities
Tunja's major university, the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia (Uptc), was founded by General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, and is one of the public universities in Colombia.
Other universities are:
- University of Boyaca
- Universidad Santo Tomás
- Escuela Superior de Administración Pública E.S.A.P.
- Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia (UNAD)
- Fundacion Universitaria Juan de Castellanos
- Corporación Universitaria Remington (CUR-Cread Boyacá)
- Universidad Antonio Nariño
- Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana de Colombia
- Instituto Universitario de la Música y las Artes
Sports
The city has two professional football teams:
The stadium was rebuilt for the
The city has a professional basketball team called Patriotas that plays in the Saludcoop Invitational Cup. This team plays its matches in the Municipality Colosseum that has a capacity of up to 5,000 spectators.
Born in Tunja
- Jair Bernal, former professional cyclist
- Iván Casas, professional cyclist
- Francisca Josefa de la Concepción, Criollo nun
- Pedro Antonio Herrera, professional cyclist
- José Ibáñez, former professional cyclist
- Diego Molano Vega, politician
- Gustavo Nieto Roa, film director
- Juan Carlos Pinzón, ambassador of Colombia to the United States
- Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, former president of Colombia
- Diego de Torres y Moyachoque, 16th century mestizo cacique of Turmequé
Sister cities
- Brazil: São Paulo
- Ecuador: Guayaquil
- Finland: Jyväskylä
- Ireland: Dublin
- Italy: Catania
- Italy: Potenza[25] (2009)
- Mexico: Tapachula
- Peru: Juliaca
- Spain: Cádiz
- Spain: Málaga[26] (2013)
- Sevilla
- Spain: Toledo[26] (2013)
- Pamplona[26](2012)
- Colombia: Popayán[26] (2012)
- San Juan de Pasto
- Colombia: Valledupar[27]
References
- ^ a b c Infomacion Capital (in Spanish) Retrieved November 17, 2022
- ^ (in Spanish) El Turismo: fuerza económica de Boyacá
- ^ a b https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/7138162.pdf
- ^ http://www.dane.gov.co/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=437&Itemid=162 Censo 1964-1993
- ^ http://www.dane.gov.co/files/censo2005/regiones/boyaca/tunja.pdf CENSO 2005 DANE
- ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — UPTC". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "Los orígenes remotos de Tunja". Tunja.gov.co. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ (in Spanish) Biography Hunzahúa - Pueblos Originarios
- ^ (in Spanish) Biography Michuá - Pueblos Originarios
- ^ (in Spanish) Biography of Quemuenchatocha - Pueblos Originarios
- ^ (in Spanish){http://pueblosoriginarios.com/biografias/aquiminzaque.html Biography of Aquiminzaque}
- ^ (in Spanish){https://web.archive.org/web/20110707053348/http://tunja.gov.co/?idcategoria=438 Nuestra Historia}
- Banco de la República
- ^ "Nuestra Historia". 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ "Page officiel de la municipalité en espagnol". Tunja.gov.co. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ "International Centre of the Prevention of Crime, International report Crime prevention and Community safety: Trends and perspectives 2010". Crime-prevention-intl.org. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ Eduardo Posada Carb (21 January 2011). "Aprender de Tunja". El Tiempo.
- ^ "Inseguridad en las ciudades: ¿ficción o realidad?" [Insecurity in cities: fiction or reality?]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). 4 January 2011.
- ^ "codigopostal4-72.com.co". Codigopostal4-72.com.co. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ "Catedral Basílica de Santiago Apóstol, Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia". Gcatholic.org. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ [1] Archived 2013-05-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Semana Santa". Tunja.gov.co. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
- ^ "Aguinaldo Boyacense La Fiesta Grande de Boyacá para Colombia". Tunja.gov.co. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
- ^ "Gobernación de Boyacá". Boyaca.gov.co. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Los Niños Vallenatos del "Turco" Gil - Nacimos para alegrar al mundo". Losninosvallenatos.com. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
External links
- (in Spanish) News from Tunja at Excelsio
- (in Spanish) News from Tunja at Mi Tunja.net