Montería
Encyclopedia
Montería is a municipality and city located in Northern Colombia
and is the capital of the Department
of Córdoba
. The city is located 50 km (31.1 mi) away from the Caribbean, by the Sinú River
. The city and region are famous for their distinct cultural heritages, which include a blend of indigenous Zenú Indians
, African descendants, colonial Spanish
descendants, and more recently, Arab
immigrants. The city is home to the Sombrero Vueltiao
, a national symbol; and is the home of Porro
folklore music. The city has an inland seaport connected to the Caribbean Sea by the Sinú River
.
, who lived in the banks of the Sinú River
(Finzenú), San Jorge River (Panzenú) and Nechí River
(Zenúfana), where the Department of Córdoba is located today. In 2003, dentist and historian Jaime Castro released Historia Extensa de Montería, a book on the history of the city. According to Castro's book, Montería was founded on May 1, 1777 by Spanish officer Antonio de la Torre y Miranda, being governor of the Province of Cartagena
officer Juan de Torrezar Díaz Pimienta
. The city, which had been named Montería by its inhabitants and located on the east side of the Sinú river, was then renamed "San Jerónimo de Buenavista" and moved to the west side of the Sinú.
San Jerónimo de Buenavista was the name chosen by Antonio de la Torre y Miranda, in order to honor Saint Jeronimo, but people referred to it as Montería. In 1803, the city was burned by a group of natives, so the residents decided to move back to the Sinú's east bank, where it remains today. In recent years, Monteria has seen a growth in population on the west side. In 1923, it became a municipality of Bolívar Department, and in 1952, it was designated as capital of the new Department of Córdoba. Montería was located within the boundaries of the Colombia
n Department of Bolívar
until 1952 when it separated from Bolívar and became the capital of the new Department of Córdoba
.
With a population of approximately 400,000, the city is considered to be one of the ten most important cities in Colombia and is locally known as La Perla del Sinú (The Pearl of the River Sinú). Monteria has gained notoriety lately for being the site of Colombian President Álvaro Uribe's vacation "finca" or ranch.
to Sincelejo
and extending to Cartagena
and Barranquilla
. It has an effective public transportation system and arterial connections to the rest of the country.
A passenger-only ferry system known as "Planchones", consists of roofed wooden rafts. It traverses the Sinu river along a system of manual cable tows. It was made as a way to cross the river before a proper bridge could be built and has served as an alternative to cross the river ever since. It is one of the most remarkable features of the city.
The city is served by a fishing port, but the waters of the Sinu river do not run deep enough and are not wide enough to serve as a commercial channel. High quality sand is brought up from the bottom of the river in buckets placed by divers, for use in the making of cinderblocks for local and regional construction projects.
, which provides service to capital cities of neighboring provinces and to the nations capital, Bogotá
, through the country's main air carrier Avianca
.
There are scenic areas that are points of pride in Monteria, including:
The city, which lies in the Sinú valley, is divided by the Sinu river and surrounded and sparsely populated by tropical flora and fauna. The town's weather is mainly warm and moderately humid, with average yearly temperatures of 27 °C (80 °F). The area is subject to flooding.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and is the capital of the Department
Departments of Colombia
Colombia is an unitary republic formed by thirty-two departments and a Capital District . Each department has a Governor and a Department Assembly , elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The governor cannot be re-elected in consecutive periods...
of Córdoba
Córdoba Department
Córdoba is a Department of the Republic of Colombia located to the north of this country in the Colombian Caribbean Region. Córdoba faces to the north with the Caribbean sea, to the northeast with the Sucre Department, east with the Bolívar Department and south with the Antioquia Department...
. The city is located 50 km (31.1 mi) away from the Caribbean, by the Sinú River
Sinú River
Sinú River , is a river in northwestern Colombia that flows mostly through the Córdoba Department and into the Caribbean. The river is the third most important river after the Magdalena River and the Cauca River in the Caribbean Region. It is born in the Antioquia Department, flowing south to north...
. The city and region are famous for their distinct cultural heritages, which include a blend of indigenous Zenú Indians
Zenú
The Zenú or Sinú are an Amerindian tribe in Colombia whose ancestral territory comprises the valleys of the Sinu and San Jorge rivers as well as the coast of the Caribbean around the Gulf of Morrosquillo...
, African descendants, colonial Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
descendants, and more recently, Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
immigrants. The city is home to the Sombrero Vueltiao
Sombrero Vueltiao
The sombrero vueltiao or sombrero vueltiado is a traditional hat from Colombia and one of its symbols. It is made out of Gynerium sagittatum known locally as caña flecha, a type of cane that grows in the region...
, a national symbol; and is the home of Porro
Porro
The porro is a musical style and dance from the Caribbean region of Colombia. It is a Colombian Cumbia rhythm that developed into its own sub-genre. It was originally a folkloric expression from the Sinú River area that evolved into a ballroom dance...
folklore music. The city has an inland seaport connected to the Caribbean Sea by the Sinú River
Sinú River
Sinú River , is a river in northwestern Colombia that flows mostly through the Córdoba Department and into the Caribbean. The river is the third most important river after the Magdalena River and the Cauca River in the Caribbean Region. It is born in the Antioquia Department, flowing south to north...
.
History
The area was first settled by Zenú IndiansZenú
The Zenú or Sinú are an Amerindian tribe in Colombia whose ancestral territory comprises the valleys of the Sinu and San Jorge rivers as well as the coast of the Caribbean around the Gulf of Morrosquillo...
, who lived in the banks of the Sinú River
Sinú River
Sinú River , is a river in northwestern Colombia that flows mostly through the Córdoba Department and into the Caribbean. The river is the third most important river after the Magdalena River and the Cauca River in the Caribbean Region. It is born in the Antioquia Department, flowing south to north...
(Finzenú), San Jorge River (Panzenú) and Nechí River
Nechi River
Nechí River is a river of northwestern Colombia. It flows into the Cauca River. Nechí River rises in the municipality of Yarumal, and serves as a boundary between the municipalities of Antioquia, Campamento, Angostura, Anorí, Yarumal, Valdivia, Tarazá, Cáceres, Zaragoza, El Bagre, Caucasia and Nechí...
(Zenúfana), where the Department of Córdoba is located today. In 2003, dentist and historian Jaime Castro released Historia Extensa de Montería, a book on the history of the city. According to Castro's book, Montería was founded on May 1, 1777 by Spanish officer Antonio de la Torre y Miranda, being governor of the Province of Cartagena
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
officer Juan de Torrezar Díaz Pimienta
Juan de Torrezar Díaz Pimienta
Juan de Torrezar Díaz Pimienta was a Spanish military officer and colonial official. He was twice governor of Cartagena de Indias, after which he was promoted to viceroy of New Granada.-Background:He was a brigadier in the royal army and a knight of the Order of Carlos III...
. The city, which had been named Montería by its inhabitants and located on the east side of the Sinú river, was then renamed "San Jerónimo de Buenavista" and moved to the west side of the Sinú.
San Jerónimo de Buenavista was the name chosen by Antonio de la Torre y Miranda, in order to honor Saint Jeronimo, but people referred to it as Montería. In 1803, the city was burned by a group of natives, so the residents decided to move back to the Sinú's east bank, where it remains today. In recent years, Monteria has seen a growth in population on the west side. In 1923, it became a municipality of Bolívar Department, and in 1952, it was designated as capital of the new Department of Córdoba. Montería was located within the boundaries of the Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n Department of Bolívar
Bolívar Department
Bolívar is a department of Colombia. It was named after one of the original nine states of the United States of Colombia. It is located to the north of the country, extending from the coast at Cartagena near the mouth of the Magdalena River, then south along the river to a border with Antioquia.Its...
until 1952 when it separated from Bolívar and became the capital of the new Department of Córdoba
Córdoba Department
Córdoba is a Department of the Republic of Colombia located to the north of this country in the Colombian Caribbean Region. Córdoba faces to the north with the Caribbean sea, to the northeast with the Sucre Department, east with the Bolívar Department and south with the Antioquia Department...
.
With a population of approximately 400,000, the city is considered to be one of the ten most important cities in Colombia and is locally known as La Perla del Sinú (The Pearl of the River Sinú). Monteria has gained notoriety lately for being the site of Colombian President Álvaro Uribe's vacation "finca" or ranch.
News Media
- El EspectadorEl EspectadorEl Espectador is a newspaper with national circulation within Colombia, founded by Fidel Cano Gutiérrez on 22 March 1887 in Medellín and published since 1915 in Bogotá...
(national weekly newspaper) - El Heraldo de BarranquillaEl Heraldo de BarranquillaEl Heraldo is a newspaper based in the city of Barranquilla in northern Colombia. It was founded in 1933 by Alberto Pumarejo, Luis Eduardo Manotas and Juan Fernández Ortega. It is the third highest circulating newspaper in Colombia mostly covering the area of the Colombian Caribbean Region and...
(regional newspaper) - El Meridiano de Cordoba (Local Newspaper)
- El Tiempo (National Newspaper)
- El Universal (regional newspaper)
Economy
The town's economy is based mainly on cattle farming, and a very prosperous commercial district consisting of modern malls, shops, and restaurant chains. It is considered to be the Cattle Farming Capital of Colombia and celebrates this title with a yearly festival.Transportation
Monteria lies on a major highway connecting MedellínMedellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
to Sincelejo
Sincelejo
Sincelejo is the capital and the largest city in the Colombian department of Sucre. It is also the main city in the denominated Región Sabanas , a subdivision of the Caribbean Region of Colombia, and the 23rd biggest city by population in Colombia...
and extending to Cartagena
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
and Barranquilla
Barranquilla
Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's...
. It has an effective public transportation system and arterial connections to the rest of the country.
Public transportation
As is common in most Colombian municipalities, public transportation is tightly integrated into the city. A system of taxis and several lines of large and small buses serve the community on surface streets. The streets of Monteria are also full of motorcycle taxis or "rapimotos" that provide economical transportation.A passenger-only ferry system known as "Planchones", consists of roofed wooden rafts. It traverses the Sinu river along a system of manual cable tows. It was made as a way to cross the river before a proper bridge could be built and has served as an alternative to cross the river ever since. It is one of the most remarkable features of the city.
Water
Air Travel
Monteria is home to a regional airport, Los Garzones AirportLos Garzones Airport
Los Garzones Airport is an airport in Montería, Córdoba, Colombia.- Airlines and destinations :- External links :*...
, which provides service to capital cities of neighboring provinces and to the nations capital, Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, through the country's main air carrier Avianca
Avianca
Avianca S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Colombia since December 5, 1919 when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its hub at the El Dorado International Airport...
.
Demographics
The region is populated by a diverse mix of people, including the indigenous people of the region, the descendants of the Sinu Indians, a tribe of natives with their own language that once produced ornate pottery and goldworks.Hotels and Restaurants
- Hotel Sinú
- Hotel Platinum
- Costa Real
- Montería Real
- Alcázar
- Casa Real
- La Bonga del Sinu (Steakhouse)
- Que Pollo (Chicken)
- Hato Viejo (Steakhouse and Local Cuisine)
- La Fogata (Steakhouse and Local Cuisine)
- Piccola Italia (Italian Pizzeria)
- Braza Caribe
- El Bony (steakhouse and local cuisine)
- La Bonga Express (gourmet hamburgers)
- Sangre de Pollo (Chicken Blood)
Sites of Interest
- The city's 1st Avenue runs along the Sinú river and offers a beautiful view of the river.
- Simon Bolivar Park is separates the river from 1st Avenue and is home to wild Monkeys and Sloths.
- The Colonial-era Cathedral of Saint Jeronimo is surrounded by a beautiful park.
- "Alamedas del Sinu" is a major shopping center in the area.
- The bridge spanning the Sinu river was a major accomplishment for the city and is a local landmark.
Geography
Education
Both public and private educational institutions run the gamut from unlicensed private preschools to fully accredited universities.Universities
- Universidad de Córdoba (website) (Public)
- Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (website) (Catholic)
- Universidad del Sinú
- Fundación Universitaria Luis Amigó
- Corporación Universitaria del Caribe
Health care
A new hospital was recently constructed in Barrio Urbina, called The Hospital of Saint Jeronimo.- Government Hospitals: 2
- Health Care Facilities: 17
- Health Care Clinics: 32
- Total Number of Beds: 204
- Number of Doctors: 87
- Number of Dentists/Othrodontists: 17
- Number of Nurses: 223
External links and references
- El Meridiano De Cordoba - Local Paper (Spanish).
- Fact Sheet, Colombian Government
- Cordoba Official Government Website
- Monteria Official Government Website