HISTORICAL
- CULTURAL
TUNJA

BOYACA
BRIDGE : A historical place, located
14 km from Tunja. It's a main tourism center, constructed on the Teatinos
River. This is where the famous Battle of Boyaca took place when in
August 7, 1819, New Granada was liberated from the Spanish under the
guidance and leadership of Simón Bolívar and Francisco
de Paula Santander. Here, they defeated the army of José María
Barreiro.
HOME
OF THE HISTORIAN JUAN DE VARGAS:This
mansion is a monument that can be appreciated for its invaluable picturesque
decorations, the most interesting home from the XVI century in Latin
America.

THE
MONKEY OF THE FOUNTAIN: Revered and
respected in Tunja, you must remain silent when you pass before it.
This monument is located in the principal plaza of Tunja and for three
centuries almost all the inhabitants of the Boyaca capital got their
water from this fountain. The monkey represents the God of silence.
It has its pointer fingers over its lips, as if it wants to tell all
those collecting water that they shouldn't speak when they collect their
water.
CUSHIONS
OF ZAQUE: In the hills in the high
part of San Lázaro to the West of Tunja, you can find stones
that make up the rock, engraved by members of the Indigenous Tribe Chibchas
centuries before. The rocks are known by the name "los Cojines
-- the Cushions."

VILLA
DE LEIVA
HOME
OF RICAURTE: Located in the plaza of San Agustin, you can visit
this beautiful vestige of history from Wednesday to Sunday, 9:00 am
- 12:00 noon, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
HOME
OF NARINO: The precursor of Colombian
independence, Don Antonio Nariño, came to die in this city December
13, 1823. The house has been restored by the national government. Public
access is from Wednesday to Sunday, 8:30 am - 12:30, 2:00 pm - 6:00
pm. It's located on the Calle 9 No. 10 - 39.
HOUSE
OF JUAN DE CASTELLANOS: One of the
most important buildings and most characteristic buildings of Villa
de Leyva. Access to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 am - 12:00
noon, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

PLAZA
MAYOR: The perfect place to enjoy
a delicious feijoa juice and watch the world go by! This is
where the celebration of Villa de Leyva's founding takes place, and
it's one of the biggest plazas in the country.

CRONOSAURIO:
This is the fossil of an enormous prehistoric animal. It's the third
example of this kind of dinosaur in the world and is calculated to be
approximately 120 million years old!
PROCERES
GARDEN : Located a block off the
principal plaza next to the House of Congress. Narrow arches with Roman
Doric columns where the mid-to-mid point arches. Public access Tuesday
to Sunday from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

MUISCAS
(an Indigenous Tribe in Colombia) COLUMNS:
This is a megalithic ruin from the Muisca tribes. It was used for astronomy
and religious purposes. It's the only ruin of this type found in Colombia
to present day.



PAIPA

THE
MONUMENT TO THE LANCERS OF THE PANTANO DE VARGAS: A monument
that depicts the heroic action of the 14 lancers under Coronal Coronal
Juan José Rondón. Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt, a famous
Colombian sculptor, was contracted to create this monument as a reminder
of what Colombians sacrificed for their independence. The breathtaking
monument is 33 meters high -- beautiful and imposing, conjuring up feelings
of nationalism and pride.
HOUSE
OF SALITRE: National
monument in a grandiose Colonial home. It has a chapel, bull-fighting
ring, and picturesque balconies. Today it is open as a hotel.




RELIGIOUS
TUNJA
THE
CATHEDRAL : Located in the Plaza
Principal, it was built at the end of the XVI century. It has three
gothic-styled naves, and four chapels where the founder of Tunja's remains
are buried. Its construction began in 1567 and didn't finish until 1607.
SAN
LAUREANO CHAPEL: Religious architecture,
located in front of the "Bosque de ola República." It has
carved and golden tablets and was the first church constructed (1566).
SANTA
BARBARA CHURCH: Religious architecture
located on Cra 11, #16-62. Construction began in 1593 and ended in 1599.
Here you can find the oldest ornaments of the Spanish crown.
VILLA DE LEYVA
VILLA
DE LEYVA CATHEDRAL: By order of the King and his and his follower's
money, construction began in 1608. On the door of the entrance to the
sacristy is a painting of San Francisco Javier, painted by Gregorio
Vasques Ceballos.
SAN
AGUSTÍN TEMPLE: Founded in
1572 it's a place for the consecration of the Dominican Nuns -- the
first community in Colombia.
MONIQUIRÁ
CHURCH : Religious architecture,
located 5 km from Villa de Leyva via santa Sofía. Constructed
in 1553. Open to the public permanently (though there is no public transportation).
NATURE
TEATINOS
RIVER : Mountainous landscapes where
the river runs. The river begins in the Lagoon of Teatinos and flows
into the River Chicamocha. Crystal, cold, calm waters and a rocky river
bank characterize the river where eucalyptus, pine, acacia and eureka
trees abound. Here cattle are raised. The river runs at an altitude
of 2,850 meters with an average temperature running between 12 - 8 degrees
C.

COCUY
NATIONAL PARK: In the Sierra Nevada
of Cocuy, Chita or Guicán, the park is bound by over 306,000
hectares and is located in the departments of Boyaca, Casanare, and
Arauca. With altitudes from 600 to 5230 meters high, it has 18 snow-peaked
mountains among them the Ritacua Blanco (5330 meters). Moreover, it
has 14 mountain peaks that have varying levels of snow, 300 lagoons
of glacier origin that feed near 80 rivers. The most phenomenal lagoons
are the Verde Lagoons (3990 meters) and the Grande Lagoon of the Sierra
and its mini-lagoons. Vegetation varies according to the altitude. Above
tree line there are more than 250 species endemic to the region where
animal species in via to extinction like the condors, eye-glassed bear,
deer, and some kinds of birds and ducks. The climate is dry between
January and March and the temperature varies between 8 and 23 degrees
C in the Eastern part of the National Park. In areas over 4800 meters,
the temperature remains 3 degrees C or below.
PISBA
NATURAL NATIONAL PARK: Famous for
the liberation armies that had to reach the summit of the mountains
to win Colombia's independence, this National Park has rugged, harsh
terrain from the Eastern Planes to Boyaca. 45,000 hectares of thermal
ground and cold where the jungle rules. Above tree line, there are many
lagoons and over 17 species of frailejones. You can camp and there is
rustic lodging. It's humid in the Eastern part and dry on the West.
Dry season is between December and March with the average temperature
between 8 and 15 degrees C. Above 3500 meters, temperatures drop to
between 5 and 8 degrees C.

IGUAQUE
SANCTUARY OF FLORA AND FAUNA: Its
harsh terrain covers 6750 hectares with altitudes from 2400 - 3800 meters
high. Between its various lagoons, the Iguaque Lagoon is one of the
most popular visitor's spots where the Muisca Indigenous Tribe was born.
The flora and fauna are varied: white-tailed deer, foxes, monkeys, snakes,
larks, hummingbirds and more. Here, the flora is exquisite bursting
with anthuriums, orchids, frailejones, and more. Like Villa de Leyva,
it's common to found marine fossils in this National Park. There is
a camping zone and visitor's center. The climate varies from arid, and
dry to bitter cold. The least rainy months are between January and March/September
and December with the average temperature ranging from 8 to 13 degrees
C.
SOCHAGOTA
LAKE : Located in Paipa, it's the stage for all kinds of water
sport competitions. Its beautiful landscape has been compared to some
European regions.

TOTA
LAGOON : A beautiful, pristine lagoon surrounded by mountains
where you can eat some of the most delicious trout found in Colombia.
MUSEUMS
TUNJA
MUSEUM/HOUSE
OF THE FOUNDER GONZALO SUAREZ RENDON:
Cra 9 #19-63, this was the only home of the founder. Constructed by
the Spanish crown in 1540, this is one of the principal tourist attractions
in Boyaca. 8:30 - 12:30, 2:00 - 6:00 pm.
MUSEUM
OF COLONIAL ART: Artistic Colonial
architecture, located in the Pedagogic and Technical University of Colombia,
it holds one of the biggest collections of reproductions of master works,
paintings, oil paintings, and art. Open during the academic school year.
VILLA DE LEYVA
MUSEUM
AND CHURCH OF CARMEN: This museum is considered one of the biggest
and best museums of religious art of the country. The church was constructed
in 1845 where the Barefooted Carmelitas Monestery is located. In the
inside of the church you can appreciate paintings of Vásquez
Ceballos.
MUSEUM
OF COLONIAL ART: Located in the Monestery
of Santo Ecce Homo 10 km from Villa de Leyva. It has a collection of
tablets, jewels, and paintings of Vasquez Ceballos. Open to the public
8:00 am - 12:00 noon, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
PALEONTOLOGY
MUSEUM: Just 1 km from Villa de Leyva,
it's the most complete collection of fossils in Colombia -- pieces found
around the Villa de Leyva area. Public access from Tuesday to Sunday,
9:00 am to 12:00 noon, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
THE
AMONITAS: Without a doubt, the most
common fossil in Villa de Leyva is called "amonita". Visitors
are surprised by the quantity and variety of the shells found throughout
the region. You don't even need to look for them, as they are in the
cobble-stoned streets and scattered throughout the region.


CONTEMPORARY
STRUCTURES
TUNJA
FOUNTAIN
OF DONATO: Located in the valley
toward the north of Tunja and to the side of the central freeway. The
name of this fountain is due to a Chibcha Legend and the incestuous
relationship between a pair of Indigenous siblings.
CONVENT
OF SAN AGUSTIN: One of the architectural
jewels of Tunja and the country.


