Pamplona, Colombia

Pamplona is a 2287 m high city in the province of Norte de Santander ( northeastern Colombia ) with 62 764 inhabitants.

History

Pamplona was founded on November 1, 1549 by Pedro de Ursua and Ortún Velasco de Velásquez as Nueva Pamplona del Valle del Espíritu Santo ( New Pamplona of the valley of the Holy Spirit ). New Pamplona was the starting point for various founding cities in the area, including Mérida, San Cristóbal and La Grita in neighboring Venezuela, as well as Ocaña, Salazar de las Palmas, Chinacota, San Faustino, Bucaramanga and San Jose de Cucuta in Colombia.

The indigenous people of the area who were called by the Spaniards Chitareros, were from 1549, forced by the colonizers to work in the 53 villages of the territory.

1875, an earthquake destroyed the cathedral and other public buildings.

Attractions

• In Agueda Gallardo Park, in the city center, numerous buildings are from the colonial era.
• The cathedral was built as Church of St. Clare Monastery in 1584 at the instigation of Magdalena Velasco, daughter of the town's founder,
• The sanctuary of Humilladero was the impact site of a hermit in the early years of the city.
• The archbishop's palace was the seat of noble family Rangel de Cuellar. Since 1837 it is the seat of the archbishops.