Chiquinquirá
| Chiquinquirá | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality and town | |||
|
View of Chiquinquirá | |||
| |||
 Location of the municipality and town of Chiquinquirá in the Boyacá Department of Colombia. | |||
  Chiquinquirá Location in Colombia | |||
| Coordinates: 5°37′08″N 73°49′12″W / 5.61889°N 73.82000°W | |||
| Country |
 Colombia | ||
| Department | Boyacá Department | ||
| Province | Western Boyacá Province | ||
| Founded | never | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor |
Cesar Augusto Carrillo Ortegón (2016-2019) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 133 km2 (51 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 2,556 m (8,386 ft) | ||
| Population (2015) | |||
| • Total | 72,274 | ||
| • Density | 540/km2 (1,400/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Chiquinquireño | ||
| Time zone | Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5) | ||
| Postal code | 154640-49 | ||
| Area code(s) | 57 + 8 | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Chiquinquirá is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá,[1] part of the subregion of the Western Boyacá Province. Located some 115 km north of Bogotá, Chiquinquirá is 2,556 metres (8,386 ft) above sea level and has a yearly average temperature 58 °F (14 °C)
Etymology
The name Chiquinquirá comes from Chibcha and means "Place of swamps covered with fog".[2]
Geography and religion
Chiquinquirá is constituted by two zones: the urban zone or town which is formed by approximately 40 neighbourhoods between the strata 1 and 4, and the rural zone which is divided in 17 sub zones located around the city.
It is home to the Basílica de Chiquinquirá, which houses the image of the Virgen de Chiquinquirá, the patroness saint of Colombia. Chiquinquirá is a major point of religious pilgrimage (source: Colombia Lonely Planet Guide, 2nd Edition, 1995).
History
The area of Chiquinquirá used to be inhabited by the Muisca before the Spanish conquest and Chiquiquinrá was an important place in the Chiquinquirá Valley. It was ruled by an independent cacique within the Muisca Confederation. It was never properly founded as a municipality.[3]
Gallery
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The painting of the Virgin Mary in Chiquinquirá
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Cultural centre Chiquinquirá
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David Guarín Park
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Church of Chiquinquirá
References
- ↑ "Alcaldía de Chiquinquirá - Boyacá". Gobierno en Línea.net. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ↑ (Spanish) Etymology Chiquinquirá - Excelsio.net
- ↑ (Spanish) Official website Chiquinquirá
Coordinates: 5°38′N 73°45′W / 5.633°N 73.750°W
