Chía
Municipality and city
Top: University of La Sabana, Second: Marroquin Castle, Third: Puente del Común, Four: Downtown Chía
Flag of Chía
Flag
Official seal of Chía
Seal
Nickname: 
City of the Moon
Location of the town and municipality of Chia in Cundinamarca Department.
Location of the town and municipality of Chia in Cundinamarca Department.
Chía is located in Colombia
Chía
Chía
Coordinates: 4°51′N 74°03′W / 4.850°N 74.050°W / 4.850; -74.050
CountryColombia
DepartmentCundinamarca
ProvinceCentral Savanna
Founded24 March 1537
Founded byGonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
Government
 • MayorLuis Carlos Segura Rubiano. (2020-2023)
Area
 • Municipality and city80.16 km2 (30.95 sq mi)
 • Urban
19.16 km2 (7.40 sq mi)
Elevation
2,564 m (8,412 ft)
Population
 (2020 est.)[1]
 • Municipality and city149,570
 • Density1,900/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
 • Urban
124,309
 • Urban density6,500/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
DemonymChiense or Chiano
Time zoneUTC-5
WebsiteOfficial website
Castillo Marroquín

Chía is a city and municipality in the department of Cundinamarca in Colombia, located 10 km north of Bogotá on the main road to Zipaquira. Due to its proximity to Bogotá, Chía has effectively become a suburb of the capital.

Its history dates back to the pre-Columbian era. Chia is also known for its gastronomy and its variety of restaurants.

It's also home of the Universidad de la Sabana one of the most prestigious in the country.[2]

Etymology

The place name "Chía" in Chibcha language or Muisca language refers to the Moon as a star and as a goddess of the Muisca mythology, in whose honour there was a temple built in the Pre-Columbian town.[3]

History

Chía was inhabited first by indigenous groups during the Herrera Period and later by the Muisca, as an important settlement in the pre-Columbian era. It was a ceremonial center of worship to the Moon goddess Chía. On March 24, 1537, the Spanish, under the command of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, took possession of the town.

In 1781, during the Revolt of the Comuneros, the march of the insurgents towards Bogotá stopped near Chía in order to cross the Bogotá River, in what is now known as the Bridge of the Commoners (Spanish: Puente del Común). At that site, the viceroy signed a series of concessions to the rebels. However, once the rebel group had dispersed, the viceroy declared the concessions invalid for having been signed "under pressure". It's widely believed that eventually Bogota will merge with Chia if the city continues to expand (as it happened with Bosa and Soacha).

Borders

Other information

  • Market Day: Sunday
  • Median temperature: 14 °C
  • DANE Code: 25175

Sites of interest

  • Marroquín Castle (El Castillo Marroquín) – a building built in 1898, located in the grounds of the Hacienda El Castillo in the sector of La Caro, north of Bogotá. It is a building by the French architect Gastón Lelarge. The castle is a cultural heritage and is used for events and meetings of various types.
  • Hacienda Yerbabuena
  • Puente del Común
  • Chía Mall (Centro-Chía)
  • Andrés Carne de Res
  • Iglesia la Valvanera
  • Biblioteca Publica Municipal HOQABIGA
  • Parque Santander
  • Fontanar Mall (Centro Comercial Fontanar)
  • La Montaña del Oso – a natural park located in the village of Yerbabuena, about 3200 meters above sea level. It is possible to take guided ecological walks, as well as camping.
  • Chapel of Our Lady of Valvanera (Capilla de Nuestra Señora de la Valvanera) – located at the top of the western hill of Chia, and is visible almost from any point of the municipality. It can be reached by walking on the steps built for this purpose, or by the two existing roads on land. Eucharistic celebrations are held every Sunday and from the adjacent balcony, there is also a panoramic view of the municipality. The road that leads to the other side of the hill (the "Boquerón") towards the municipality of Tenjo is also a frequent site for mountain biking, along with the other road that crosses the hill a little further north and that will give the municipality of Tabio (known as "Lourdes").

Sports facilities

  • Coliseo de la Luna (8,000 spectators), playing ground for the basketball team Cóndores de Cundinamarca
  • Sports unit "Rio Frio"
  • Olympic village
  • BMX Track "Iván de Jesús Barrientos"

References

  1. ↑ Citypopulation.de
  2. ↑ Portafolio. "Las universidades privadas colombianas más destacadas en Latinoamérica". Portafolio.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  3. ↑ (in Spanish) Etymology Chía
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