Jump to content

Villa de Leyva: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 5°38′N 73°32′W / 5.633°N 73.533°W / 5.633; -73.533
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
twn.
Tags: Reverted Visual edit
m Reverted edits by Howdoesitgo1 (talk) to last version by Ser Amantio di Nicolao
Line 52: Line 52:
}}
}}


'''Villa de Leyva''', also called '''Villa de Leiva''' is a touristic colonial town and municipality in the [[Ricaurte Province]] which is part of the [[Boyacá Department]] of [[Colombia]]. The town is located {{convert|37|km|mi}} west of the departmental capital [[Tunja]]. It is about two and a half hours by car or bus from [[Bogotá]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Bogot%C3%A1/Villa-de-Leyva|title=Bogotá to Villa de Leyva|last=|first=|date=|website=Rome2rio|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref>
'''Villa de Leyva''', also called '''Villa de Leiva''', is a touristic colonial town and municipality, in the [[Ricaurte Province]], part of the [[Boyacá Department]] of [[Colombia]]. The town is located {{convert|37|km|mi}} west of the departmental capital [[Tunja]]. It is about two and a half hours by car or bus from [[Bogotá]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Bogot%C3%A1/Villa-de-Leyva|title=Bogotá to Villa de Leyva|last=|first=|date=|website=Rome2rio|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref>


Located away from major trade routes in a high altitude valley of semi-desert terrain, and with no mineral deposits nearby to exploit, the town has undergone little development in the last 400 years. As a consequence, it is one of the few towns in Colombia to have preserved much of its original [[Spanish Colonial architecture|colonial style and architecture]]: the streets and large central plaza are still paved with cobblestones, and many buildings date from the sixteenth century. This has resulted in Villa de Leyva becoming one of Colombia's principal tourist attractions, and it was declared a National Monument on December 17, 1954 to preserve its architecture.<ref name="Graceful Window">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/travel/25explorer.html?pagewanted=all|title=Villa de Leyva, a Graceful Window on Colonial Colombia|author=David Carr|date=October 22, 2009|publisher=NY Times|accessdate=June 18, 2014}}</ref> The town and the surrounding countryside which contains several sites of interest, are popular weekend destinations for citizens of Bogota and attract an increasing number of foreign tourists.
Located away from major trade routes in a high altitude valley of semi-desert terrain, and with no mineral deposits nearby to exploit, the town has undergone little development in the last 400 years. As a consequence, it is one of the few towns in Colombia to have preserved much of its original [[Spanish Colonial architecture|colonial style and architecture]]: the streets and large central plaza are still paved with cobblestones, and many buildings date from the sixteenth century. This has resulted in Villa de Leyva becoming one of Colombia's principal tourist attractions, and it was declared a National Monument on December 17, 1954 to preserve its architecture.<ref name="Graceful Window">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/travel/25explorer.html?pagewanted=all|title=Villa de Leyva, a Graceful Window on Colonial Colombia|author=David Carr|date=October 22, 2009|publisher=NY Times|accessdate=June 18, 2014}}</ref> The town and the surrounding countryside, which contains several sites of interest, are popular weekend destinations for citizens of Bogota, and attract an increasing number of foreign tourists.


As a result of its cool temperatures, dry climate, and rich soil, Villa de Leyva has established itself as a [[wine region]] with the emergence of a number of [[Winery|wineries]] around the town in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.winemag.com/2019/02/07/four-wine-trails-through-new-world-regions/|title=Four Wine Trails through New World Regions|date=2019-02-07|website=Wine Enthusiast|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref>
As a result of its cool temperatures, dry climate, and rich soil, Villa de Leyva has established itself as a [[wine region]], with the emergence of a number of [[Winery|wineries]] around the town in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.winemag.com/2019/02/07/four-wine-trails-through-new-world-regions/|title=Four Wine Trails through New World Regions|date=2019-02-07|website=Wine Enthusiast|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref>


== Geography ==
== Geography ==
Line 70: Line 70:


== Tourism ==
== Tourism ==
The focus of the town is the Plaza Mayor which at 14,000 square meters is the largest square in Colombia and believed to be the largest entirely cobbled square in South America.
The focus of the town is the Plaza Mayor, which at 14,000 square meters is the largest square in Colombia and believed to be the largest entirely cobbled square in South America.


The town's most famous son is [[Antonio Ricaurte]] (1797–1814), a captain in [[Simon Bolivar]]'s army fighting for independence and who died in a famous act of self-sacrifice at [[San Mateo, Aragua|San Mateo]] in what is now Venezuela. The house in which he was born, on the Plazuela de San Agustín, was acquired by Colombia's Air Force in 1977 and turned into a military museum.
The town's most famous son is [[Antonio Ricaurte]] (1797–1814), a captain in [[Simon Bolivar]]'s army fighting for independence, and who died in a famous act of self-sacrifice at [[San Mateo, Aragua|San Mateo]] in what is now Venezuela. The house in which he was born, on the Plazuela de San Agustín, was acquired by Colombia's Air Force in 1977 and turned into a military museum.


Villa de Leyva has also been home to two other well-known figures in Colombian history. [[Antonio Nariño]], best known for translating ''[[The Rights of Man]]'' into Spanish and a leading advocate for Colombian independence lived the last few years of his life and died in Villa de Leyva. Luis Alberto Acuña (1904 – 1993), one of the most important Colombian artists of the 20th century also spent his final years in the town. The houses of both men are now museums containing their personal properties, and in the case of Acuña, a selection of his works, including two murals on the walls of the internal patio.
Villa de Leyva has also been home to two other well-known figures in Colombian history. [[Antonio Nariño]], best known for translating ''[[The Rights of Man]]'' into Spanish and a leading advocate for Colombian independence, lived the last few years of his life and died in Villa de Leyva. Luis Alberto Acuña (1904 – 1993), one of the most important Colombian artists of the 20th century, also spent his final years in the town. The houses of both men are now museums containing their personal properties, and in the case of Acuña, a selection of his works, including two murals on the walls of the internal patio.


The House of the First Congress, where the First Congress of the United Provinces of Nueva Granada met on October 4, 1812, is located on the north corner of the main plaza. It is currently the site of the municipal council.
The House of the First Congress, where the First Congress of the United Provinces of Nueva Granada met on October 4, 1812, is located on the north corner of the main plaza. It is currently the site of the municipal council.


A few miles further west is a [[Muisca astronomy]] observatory, made of phallic stones colloquially named ''[[El Infiernito]]'' ("little hell" in Spanish), as the Spanish [[conquistador]]s were horrified by the stones and proclaimed that the Muisca would be banished to hell for their obscene representations.
A few miles further west is a [[Muisca astronomy]] observatory, made of phallic stones, colloquially named ''[[El Infiernito]]'' ("little hell" in Spanish), as the Spanish [[conquistador]]s were horrified by the stones and proclaimed that the Muisca would be banished to hell for their obscene representations.


To the north-east of Villa de Leyva, the land rises to cloud-forest and includes the national park of [[Lake Iguaque|Iguaque]], and a group of seven [[waterfall]]s collectively named [[La Periquera]], {{convert|15|km|mi}} from the town centre.
To the north-east of Villa de Leyva, the land rises to cloud-forest and includes the national park of [[Lake Iguaque|Iguaque]], and a group of seven [[waterfall]]s collectively named [[La Periquera]], {{convert|15|km|mi}} from the town centre.


== Paleontology ==
== Paleontology ==
Near Villa de Leyva are several other sites of interest. The valley in which the town is located is rich in fossils from the [[Paja Formation]] ([[Cretaceous]] era) with the most famous being a near-complete ''[[Kronosaurus|Kronosaurus boyacensis]]'' discovered in 1977 about {{convert|3|mi|km}} west of Villa de Leyva. Known simply as ''El Fósil'', the fossil was left ''in situ'' where it was discovered and a museum was built around it: another smaller ''Kronosaurus'' fossil was discovered nearby and brought to the museum to be displayed alongside the larger specimen.<ref name="Graceful Window" /> In the same formation the fossil [[ichthyosaur]]s ''[[Platypterygius|Platypterygius sachicarum]]'' and ''[[Muiscasaurus|Muiscasaurus catheti]]'' and the [[brachiosaur]] ''[[Padillasaurus|Padillasaurus leivaensis]]'' and [[pliosaur]] ''[[Brachauchenius]]'', later reclassified as ''[[Stenorhynchosaurus]]'', have been discovered.<ref name=PaleoDBPlaty>[http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=142346 ''Platypterygius sachicarum''] in the [[Paleobiology Database]]</ref><ref name=PaleoDBMuisca>[http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=175725 ''Muiscasaurus catheti''] in the [[Paleobiology Database]]</ref><ref name=PaleoDBPadilla>[http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=172898 ''Padillasaurus leivaensis''] in the [[Paleobiology Database]]</ref><ref name=PaleoDBBrachau>[http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=55502 ''Brachauchenius''] in the [[Paleobiology Database]]</ref>
Near Villa de Leyva are several other sites of interest. The valley in which the town is located is rich in fossils from the [[Paja Formation]] ([[Cretaceous]] era), the most famous being a near-complete ''[[Kronosaurus|Kronosaurus boyacensis]]'' discovered in 1977 about {{convert|3|mi|km}} west of Villa de Leyva. Known simply as ''El Fósil'', the fossil was left ''in situ'' where it was discovered and a museum was built around it: another smaller ''Kronosaurus'' fossil was discovered nearby and brought to the museum to be displayed alongside the larger specimen.<ref name="Graceful Window" /> In the same formation the fossil [[ichthyosaur]]s ''[[Platypterygius|Platypterygius sachicarum]]'' and ''[[Muiscasaurus|Muiscasaurus catheti]]'' and the [[brachiosaur]] ''[[Padillasaurus|Padillasaurus leivaensis]]'' and [[pliosaur]] ''[[Brachauchenius]]'', later reclassified as ''[[Stenorhynchosaurus]]'', have been discovered.<ref name=PaleoDBPlaty>[http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=142346 ''Platypterygius sachicarum''] in the [[Paleobiology Database]]</ref><ref name=PaleoDBMuisca>[http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=175725 ''Muiscasaurus catheti''] in the [[Paleobiology Database]]</ref><ref name=PaleoDBPadilla>[http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=172898 ''Padillasaurus leivaensis''] in the [[Paleobiology Database]]</ref><ref name=PaleoDBBrachau>[http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=55502 ''Brachauchenius''] in the [[Paleobiology Database]]</ref>


[[File:La Mesopotamia.jpg|thumb|Oldest Building in Town, 1.568]]
[[File:La Mesopotamia.jpg|thumb|Oldest Building in Town, 1.568]]

Revision as of 03:46, 24 November 2020

Villa de Leyva
Flag of Villa de Leyva
Flag
Official seal of Villa de Leyva
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Villa de Nuestra Señora
de Santa Maria de Leyva
Location of the town of Villa de Leyva and the Leyva municipality in Boyacá Department
Location of the town of Villa de Leyva and the Leyva municipality in Boyacá Department
Coordinates: 5°38′N 73°32′W / 5.633°N 73.533°W / 5.633; -73.533
Country Colombia
DepartmentBoyacá Department
ProvinceRicaurte Province
FoundedJune 12, 1572
Founded byAndré Diaz Venero de Leyva
Government
 • MayorJosue Javier Castellanos Morales
(2020-2023)
Area
 • City128 km2 (49 sq mi)
Elevation
2,149 m (7,051 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • City16,984
 • Density130/km2 (340/sq mi)
 • Urban
9,926
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

Villa de Leyva, also called Villa de Leiva, is a touristic colonial town and municipality, in the Ricaurte Province, part of the Boyacá Department of Colombia. The town is located 37 kilometres (23 mi) west of the departmental capital Tunja. It is about two and a half hours by car or bus from Bogotá.[1]

Located away from major trade routes in a high altitude valley of semi-desert terrain, and with no mineral deposits nearby to exploit, the town has undergone little development in the last 400 years. As a consequence, it is one of the few towns in Colombia to have preserved much of its original colonial style and architecture: the streets and large central plaza are still paved with cobblestones, and many buildings date from the sixteenth century. This has resulted in Villa de Leyva becoming one of Colombia's principal tourist attractions, and it was declared a National Monument on December 17, 1954 to preserve its architecture.[2] The town and the surrounding countryside, which contains several sites of interest, are popular weekend destinations for citizens of Bogota, and attract an increasing number of foreign tourists.

As a result of its cool temperatures, dry climate, and rich soil, Villa de Leyva has established itself as a wine region, with the emergence of a number of wineries around the town in recent years.[3]

Geography

The urban centre of Villa de Leyva is located in an intermontane valley on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at 2,149 metres (7,051 ft).[4]

History

The area of Villa de Leyva was inhabited early in the inhabitation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. The earliest archaeological evidence has been surfaced around El Infiernito, an archeoastronomical site dating back to pre-Herrera times. The Muisca were the inhabitants of the area at the time of the Spanish conquest and the zaque of Hunza ruled over the area of Villa de Leyva.

The town was founded on June 12, 1572 by and named after the first president of the New Kingdom of Granada, Andrés Díaz Venero de Leiva.[2][4]

Arts and culture

There are several festivals held throughout the year, including a gastronomical festival in November, the water festival, the tree festival, the Villa de Leyva Jazz Festival in July, the International Kite-flying Festival in August, the onion beauty pageant in October, and the Festival of Lights on December 7. There are also several musical, painting and theatre events which are available throughout the whole year. As a gastronomic destination, restaurants tend to have live music bands or singers. There are also enjoyable storytellers who perform weekly in the main square for the entertainment of usual pedestriants or tourists. It is also common to rent bikes for historical tours of the town and its outskirts

Tourism

The focus of the town is the Plaza Mayor, which at 14,000 square meters is the largest square in Colombia and believed to be the largest entirely cobbled square in South America.

The town's most famous son is Antonio Ricaurte (1797–1814), a captain in Simon Bolivar's army fighting for independence, and who died in a famous act of self-sacrifice at San Mateo in what is now Venezuela. The house in which he was born, on the Plazuela de San Agustín, was acquired by Colombia's Air Force in 1977 and turned into a military museum.

Villa de Leyva has also been home to two other well-known figures in Colombian history. Antonio Nariño, best known for translating The Rights of Man into Spanish and a leading advocate for Colombian independence, lived the last few years of his life and died in Villa de Leyva. Luis Alberto Acuña (1904 – 1993), one of the most important Colombian artists of the 20th century, also spent his final years in the town. The houses of both men are now museums containing their personal properties, and in the case of Acuña, a selection of his works, including two murals on the walls of the internal patio.

The House of the First Congress, where the First Congress of the United Provinces of Nueva Granada met on October 4, 1812, is located on the north corner of the main plaza. It is currently the site of the municipal council.

A few miles further west is a Muisca astronomy observatory, made of phallic stones, colloquially named El Infiernito ("little hell" in Spanish), as the Spanish conquistadors were horrified by the stones and proclaimed that the Muisca would be banished to hell for their obscene representations.

To the north-east of Villa de Leyva, the land rises to cloud-forest and includes the national park of Iguaque, and a group of seven waterfalls collectively named La Periquera, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the town centre.

Paleontology

Near Villa de Leyva are several other sites of interest. The valley in which the town is located is rich in fossils from the Paja Formation (Cretaceous era), the most famous being a near-complete Kronosaurus boyacensis discovered in 1977 about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Villa de Leyva. Known simply as El Fósil, the fossil was left in situ where it was discovered and a museum was built around it: another smaller Kronosaurus fossil was discovered nearby and brought to the museum to be displayed alongside the larger specimen.[2] In the same formation the fossil ichthyosaurs Platypterygius sachicarum and Muiscasaurus catheti and the brachiosaur Padillasaurus leivaensis and pliosaur Brachauchenius, later reclassified as Stenorhynchosaurus, have been discovered.[5][6][7][8]

Oldest Building in Town, 1.568
Panoramic view of Villa de Leyva's main square
Panoramic view of Villa de Leyva's semi-desert
  • Statue of Andrés Diaz Venero de Leyva
    Statue of Andrés Diaz Venero de Leyva
  • Statue of Antonio Nariño
    Statue of Antonio Nariño
  • Church interior
    Church interior
  • Statue of Jesus Christ in Villa de Leyva
    Statue of Jesus Christ in Villa de Leyva
  • Ammonite monument in Villa de Leyva
    Ammonite monument in Villa de Leyva
  • Paleontological museum with El Fósil
    Paleontological museum with El Fósil
  • Clay house
    Clay house
  • Rural area
    Rural area
  • Pozos Azules
    Pozos Azules
  • La Periquera waterfall
    La Periquera waterfall

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bogotá to Villa de Leyva". Rome2rio. Retrieved 2020-04-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c David Carr (October 22, 2009). "Villa de Leyva, a Graceful Window on Colonial Colombia". NY Times. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  3. ^ "Four Wine Trails through New World Regions". Wine Enthusiast. 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  4. ^ a b (in Spanish) Official website Villa de Leyva
  5. ^ Platypterygius sachicarum in the Paleobiology Database
  6. ^ Muiscasaurus catheti in the Paleobiology Database
  7. ^ Padillasaurus leivaensis in the Paleobiology Database
  8. ^ Brachauchenius in the Paleobiology Database
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Villa de Leyva.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Villa de Leyva.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Villa_de_Leyva&oldid=990378348"