Travel Guide Tunja

140 km from Bogotá and 2,800 m above sea level, Tunja is the capital of Boyacá. Tunja was founded on August 6, 1539, but the vestiges of the colonial period are unfortunately drowned among the recent, rather ugly constructions. This was the will of the dictator Rojas Pinilla, a native of Tunja, who confused modernity with reinforced concrete. The city is peaceful, but can be invaded by Colombian tourists on the occasion of a religious festival or a concert organized in the main square. Most of the interesting sites are in the area around Plaza Bolívar, where you can find the traditional statue of the Libertador, the Santiago de Tunja cathedral and some beautiful colonial houses. It was here, in the central square, that more than four centuries ago Gonzalo Suarez Rendón had the Zaque Aquimin, one of the last Muisca chiefs, beheaded.