BUCARAMANGA
Department
Santander, Colombia
Flag of the city
The municipal flag of Bucaramanga was designed by the historian Gustavo Gómez Mejía. Made of two green stripes with a yellow one in the middle. In the centre, there’s a blue disk, surrounded by a red circle. In the middle of the blue disk, there’s a white star.
Seal of the city
Slogan of the city
The luscious green of this city’s many parks give it a distinctive feel. In fact, Bucaramanga is known as the “City of Parks.” Bucaramanga is also characterized by the selection of hotels it offers, which cater to the tastes of different travellers.
History
Bucaramanga, situated in the department of Santander in northeastern Colombia, boasts a rich and diverse history that spans centuries. Long before Spanish colonization, indigenous groups, including the Guanes, inhabited the region, engaging in agriculture and establishing settlements. Spanish colonizers arrived in the early 16th century, eventually leading to the foundation of Bucaramanga on December 22, 1622, by Andrés Páez de Sotomayor.The city played a role in the struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule, witnessing battles and uprisings.
During the 19th century, Bucaramanga’s economy began to flourish, driven by agricultural activities, notably tobacco and coffee cultivation. Its strategic location in the Andean region contributed to its economic growth. In the 20th century, the city experienced further modernization and expansion, becoming a vital centre for trade, commerce, and education in the region.
In contemporary times, Bucaramanga remains a thriving cultural and economic hub. It is celebrated for its cultural festivals, such as the Feria Bonita and the Festival Internacional de Cine de Santander, as well as its landmarks, including the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Family, Parque de los Niños, and the Museum of Modern Art of Bucaramanga. This dynamic city reflects Colombia’s broader historical and cultural developments and has evolved from a colonial settlement into a vibrant and modern metropolis, characterized by its diverse cultural landscape and economic vitality
Geography of the city
Bucaramanga, located in the Santander department of Colombia, resides in the eastern Andean region, surrounded by a diverse geographical landscape. Situated at an elevation of approximately 959 meters (3,146 feet) above sea level, it enjoys a mild subtropical highland climate characterized by warm days and cool nights throughout the year. The city is nestled in a valley with a mix of flat areas and rolling hills, surrounded by lush vegetation and tropical forests, including areas where coffee, tobacco, and sugarcane are cultivated. Numerous rivers and streams, like the Rio de Oro and Rio Suratá, traverse the region. Bucaramanga’s natural beauty extends to its proximity to the majestic Chicamocha Canyon, one of the world’s largest canyons. Amidst this picturesque setting, the city has developed with well-planned urban areas, parks, and modern infrastructure, offering a harmonious blend of urban living and access to the stunning Colombian landscape.
Population
607,428(2020)
613,400 (2023 projection)
One photo representative of the city
Bucaramanga, Colombia, is known as the “City of Parks” due to its numerous green spaces. One of its most representative and famous places is the “Parque del Agua,” which is a vast park designed around water features. The park is a significant recreational area and represents the city’s commitment to providing green spaces for its residents.
Etymology
The name of Bucaramanga, like those of “Bucarica” and “Bucarasica”, comes from the language of the indigenous people called chitareros by the Spanish soldiers who conquered their territory in 1549. In 1552, Álvaro de Villanueva found gold in the sands of the Rio del Río Oro, causing the sending of crews of chitareros Indians from the Guaca parcels to wash the gold sands of that river. One of those gangs was called Bucaramanga, probably because that word designated the chief who sent them to comply with the tax obligations of the encomienda. The Indians of the Cacique Bucarica gang were sent to build the hacienda of Captain Juan de Velasco, origin of the current site of the same name. As no doctrinal friar wrote a vocabulary of the Chitarera language, it is very difficult to know the original etymology of the word Bucaramanga but in some versions it is believed that its name derives from ´´Bucar´´ which means Lord and ´´Amanga´´ which means room or herd. They are common nicknames of Bucaramanga City of parks due to the number of parks that are in the city and the beautiful city that was put by the journalist Yamid Amat.
What the city is known or famous for
Bucaramanga has over 160 parks scattered throughout the city and has been given the nickname “La Ciudad de Los Parques” (“The City of Parks”) and “La Ciudad Bonita de Colombia” (“Colombia’s Beautiful City”).