Montería

Montería
—  City  —
Seal
Nickname(s): La Capital Ganadera de Colombia (The Rancher Capital of Colombia) or La Ciudad de las Golondrinas (The City of the Swallows)
Coordinates: 8°45′N 75°53′W / 8.75°N 75.883°W / 8.75; -75.883Coordinates: 8°45′N 75°53′W / 8.75°N 75.883°W / 8.75; -75.883
Country	Colombia
Region	Caribbean Region (Colombia)
Department	Córdoba*
Foundation	May 1, 1777
Government
– Mayor	marcos Daniel Pineda García
Area
– Total	15,456 km2 (5,967.6 sq mi)
Elevation	18 m (59 ft)
Population (2006 est.)
– Total	275,952
– Density	17.9/km2 (46.2/sq mi)
Time zone	Eastern Time Zone (UTC-05)
Website	monteria.gov.co
*Monteria metropolitan area is yet to be determined.

Montería is a municipality and city located in Northern Colombia and is the capital of the Department of Córdoba. The city is located 50 km (31 mi) away from the Caribbean, by the Sinú River. The city and region are famous for their distinct cultural heritages, which include a blend of indigenous Zenú Indians, African descendants, colonial Spanish descendants, and more recently, Arab immigrants. The city is home to the Sombrero Vueltiao, a national symbol; and is the home of Porro folklore music. The city has an inland seaport connected to the Caribbean Sea by the Sinú River.

History

The area was first settled by Zenú Indians, who lived in the banks of the Sinú River (Finzenú), San Jorge River (Panzenú) and Nechí River (Zenúfana), where the Department of Córdoba is located today. In 2003, dentist and historian Jaime Castro released Historia Extensa de Montería, a book on the history of the city. According to Castro's book, Montería was founded on May 1, 1777 by Spanish officer Antonio de la Torre y Miranda, being governor of the Province of Cartagena officer Juan de Torrezar Díaz Pimienta. The city, which had been named Montería by its inhabitants and located on the east side of the Sinú river, was then renamed "San Jerónimo de Buenavista" and moved to the west side of the Sinú.

San Jerónimo de Buenavista was the name chosen by Antonio de la Torre y Miranda, in order to honor Saint Jeronimo, but people referred to it as Montería. In 1803, the city was burned by a group of natives, so the residents decided to move back to the Sinú's east bank, where it remains today. In recent years, Monteria has seen a growth in population on the west side. In 1923, it became a municipality of Bolívar Department, and in 1952, it was designated as capital of the new Department of Córdoba. Montería was located within the boundaries of the Colombian Department of Bolívar until 1952 when it separated from Bolívar and became the capital of the new Department of Córdoba.

With a population of approximately 400,000, the city is considered to be one of the ten most important cities in Colombia and is locally known as La Perla del Sinú (The Pearl of the River Sinú). Monteria has gained notoriety lately for being the site of Colombian President Álvaro Uribe's vacation "finca" or ranch.

Media and Communications

News Media

• El Espectador (national weekly newspaper)
• El Heraldo de Barranquilla (regional newspaper)
• El Meridiano de Cordoba (Local Newspaper)
• El Tiempo (National Newspaper)
• El Universal (regional newspaper)

Economy

The town's economy is based mainly on cattle farming, and a very prosperous commercial district consisting of modern malls, shops, and restaurant chains. It is considered to be the Cattle Farming Capital of Colombia and celebrates this title with a yearly festival.

Transportation

Monteria lies on a major highway connecting Medellín to Sincelejo and extending to Cartagena and Barranquilla. It has an effective public transportation system and arterial connections to the rest of the country.

Public transportation

As is common in most Colombian municipalities, public transportation is tightly integrated into the city. A system of taxis and several lines of large and small buses serve the community on surface streets. The streets of Monteria are also full of motorcycle taxis or "rapimotos" that provide economical transportation.

A passenger-only ferry system known as "Planchones", consists of roofed wooden rafts. It traverses the Sinu river along a system of manual cable tows. It was made as a way to cross the river before a proper bridge could be built and has served as an alternative to cross the river ever since. It is one of the most remarkable features of the city.

Water

View of Monteria from the Sinu river.

The city is served by a fishing port, but the waters of the Sinu river do not run deep enough and are not wide enough to serve as a commercial channel. High quality sand is brought up from the bottom of the river in buckets placed by divers, for use in the making of cinderblocks for local and regional construction projects.

Air Travel

Monteria is home to a regional airport, Los Garzones Airport, which provides service to capital cities of neighboring provinces and to the nations capital, Bogotá, through the country's main air carrier Avianca.

Demographics

The region is populated by a diverse mix of people, including the indigenous people of the region, the descendants of the Sinu Indians, a tribe of natives with their own language that once produced ornate pottery and goldworks.

Tourism and Entertainment

Hotels and Restaurants

• Hotel Sinú
• Hotel Platinum
• Costa Real
• Montería Real
• Alcázar
• Casa Real
• La Bonga del Sinu (Steakhouse)
• Que Pollo (Chicken)
• Hato Viejo (Steakhouse and Local Cuisine)
• La Fogata (Steakhouse and Local Cuisine)
• Piccola Italia (Italian Pizzeria)
• Braza Caribe
• El Bony (steakhouse and local cuisine)
• La Bonga Express (gourmet hamburgers)
• Sangre de Pollo (Chicken Blood)

Sites of Interest

Colonial church in downtown Monteria.

There are scenic areas that are points of pride in Monteria, including:

• The city's 1st Avenue runs along the Sinú river and offers a beautiful view of the river.
• Simon Bolivar Park is separates the river from 1st Avenue and is home to wild Monkeys and Sloths.
• The Colonial-era Cathedral of Saint Jeronimo is surrounded by a beautiful park.
• "Alamedas del Sinu" is a major shopping center in the area.
• The bridge spanning the Sinu river was a major accomplishment for the city and is a local landmark.

Night Life

• La morena
• Savannah
• blue
• So Hot Bar
• SuperStar Bar

Sporting Clubs

• Centro Recreacional Tacasuán
• Club Campestre
• Club de golf

Geography

Valley of the Sinu river

The city, which lies in the Sinú valley, is divided by the Sinu river and surrounded and sparsely populated by tropical flora and fauna. The town's weather is mainly warm and moderately humid, with average yearly temperatures of 27 °C (80 °F). The area is subject to flooding.

Education

Both public and private educational institutions run the gamut from unlicensed private preschools to fully accredited universities.

Universities

• Universidad de Córdoba (website) (Public)
• Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (website) (Catholic)
• Universidad del Sinú
• Fundación Universitaria Luis Amigó
• Corporación Universitaria del Caribe

Health care

A new hospital was recently constructed in Barrio Urbina, called The Hospital of Saint Jeronimo.

• Government Hospitals: 2
• Health Care Facilities: 17
• Health Care Clinics: 32
• Total Number of Beds: 204

• Number of Doctors: 87
• Number of Dentists/Othrodontists: 17
• Number of Nurses: 223

External links and references

• El Meridiano De Cordoba - Local Paper (Spanish).
• Fact Sheet, Colombian Government
• Cordoba Official Government Website
• Monteria Official Government Website