Tunja

Infobox City
official_name = Santiago de Tunja
other_name = Tunja
nickname =
motto =

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image_caption = Central Plaza of Tunja

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image_shield = Coat of arms of Tunja.png

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map_size = 250px
map_caption = Location of the town and municipality of Tunja in Boyacá Department.
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Colombia
subdivision_type1 = Department
subdivision_name1 = Boyacá
subdivision_type2 = Province
subdivision_name2 = Central Boyacá Province
government_type = Municipality
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Benigno Hernán Díaz Cárdenas
established_title = Founded
established_date = August 6, 1539
established_title2 = Established
established_date2 = March 29, 1541
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 =
area_land_km2 =
area_water_km2 =
area_water_percent =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2005
population_note =
population_total = 152419
population_density_km2 =
latd=5 |latm=32|lats= |latNS=N
longd=73 |longm=22 |longs= |longEW=W
elevation_m = 2810
area_code =
website = http://tunja.gov.co/index.html
footnotes =

Tunja IPA2|ˈtuŋha is a city and municipality in Colombia, capital of the Boyacá department and part of the subregion of the Central Boyacá Province.

Demographics and Geography

Tunja has a population of approximately 160,000 inhabitants and is located in north central Colombia. It has an elevation of 2.820 meters above sea level.

History

This Colombian historical city was founded on August 6, 1539 by the Spanish captain, Gonzalo Suarez Rendon, in the domain of "El Zaque", one of the chiefs of the Muiscas tribe.

The city was also the capital of the short lived state of the United Provinces of New Granada from 1810 to 1816.

Tunja is now a university city; one out of every five inhabitants is a student. It is also the home of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tunja.

Festivals

Tunja also has the Cold Festival, The International Festival of Culture and Expressions, and one of the most famous celebrations named Aguinaldo Boyacense. The city is historically rich because of all its Catholic churches and old buildings. The famous town name historically known as "The Loyal and Noble city of Santiago of Tunja" is the place where you can find one of the best places to enjoy cultural events. For instance the International Festival of Culture is one of the biggest festivals in Colombia. In this festival you can enjoy the theater, story tellers, dancing groups, and many other cultural expressions. Tunja also celebrates the Cold Festival during the month of October. In this festival there is a beauty contest, and a fashion competition around of the typical Ruana. In December, has the "Aguinaldo Boyacense" that brings the opportunity to enjoy a full week of all the festivities with musical events, cultural and sport presentations.

Sports

Tunja has two football (soccer) teams the Boyacá Chicó F.C. which plays in the Colombian first division (Copa Mustang) and another one in the Colombian Second Division "Primera B" called Patriotas FC.

External links

* [http://tunja.gov.co/index.html] City of Tunja Municipal Government
* [http://www.odontoimagen.homestead.com/universidades.html] Tunja's Universities and Colleges