Country Colombia Founded 7 January 1554 Website Official website Area 61.63 km² Local time Wednesday 4:02 AM | Department Boyacá Department Founded by Melchor Vanegas Elevation 2,750 m Population 3,762 (2015) Province Tundama Province | |
 | ||
Time zone Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5) Weather 11°C, Wind NE at 5 km/h, 87% Humidity | ||
Cerinza is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, and part of the Tundama Province subregion. Cerinza borders Belén in the north, Encino, Santander in the west, Santa Rosa de Viterbo in the south and Floresta and Betéitiva in the east.
Contents
Map of Cerinza, Boyac%C3%A1, Colombia
History
Before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, the area of Cerinza was ruled by the cacique of Tundama, present-day Duitama. The cacicazgo was part of the Muisca Confederation, the former country in the central highlands of the Colombian Andes. The Muisca spoke Chibcha and in that language Cerinza means "my throat". The village was named after the cacique with the same name.
Modern Cerinza was founded on 7 January 1554 by Melchor Vanegas, after conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada entered the village in 1538.
Economy
Main economical activities in Cerinza are livestock farming and agriculture (potatoes, maize, peas and beans).