El Cerrito, Valle del Cauca
Encyclopedia
El Cerrito is a town and municipality located in the Department
of Valle del Cauca
, Colombia
. This is one of the 42 municipalities of the department.
The town is known for having within its jurisdiction the hacienda "El Paraíso", where the writer Jorge Isaacs
lived and set his novel María. Part of its territory also belongs to the Parque Nacional Natural Las Hermosas. Is situated 47 km east to Cali
, the capital of the department.
origin (El Cerrito translates literally into English
as The Small Hill), and it refers to the hill where the population resides. It is a massif in the Colombian Andes Region.
Its coordinates are between 1° 13' to 2° West longitude and 4° to 5° North latitude, at an altitude of 987 m
over sea level and its average temperature is 24 °C.
Its topography comprises two areas: The first one is the mountainous western side of Cordillera Central
; its highest peaks are Paramo de las Hermosas (3,500 meters high), the Cerro Pan de Azúcar
and El Alto de la Cruz. The second area is flat or slightly wavy and belongs to the valley of the Cauca River
. The territory corresponds to the thermal floors warm, half cold and wilderness. The hydrography of the municipality is composed by the rivers Amaime, Cauca, Cerrito
and Sabaletas, along with several creeks and smaller streams, and the lagoon Three Americas.
and Ginebra to the North, by Chaparral
in the Department
of Tolima on the East, Palmira
to the south and by Vijes
to the West.
The municipal seat is divided into neighborhoods San Rafael, Santa Bárbara, Chapinero, Buenos Aires, Eduardo Cabal Molina, La Estrella, El Rosario, Sagrado Corazón, Álvaro Navia Prado, El Cincuentenario, La Esperanza, Sajonia, Pueblito Valluno, Coincer, Villa del Carmen, Los Samanes, Villa Cariño, Villa La Paz, Brisas de la Merced (El Teatrino), Nuevo Amanecer and El Porvenir.
Calarcá were submitted by the Europeans.
An important figure in the era of conquest is Maria Luisa de la Espada, who was born in Canton Buga. Daughter of a Spaniard, she inherited the family's trust, writing a story and legend of charm that attracts thousands of tourists to walk the roads that climb to the district of Tenerife to visit the many houses on the road and the ruins of her castle.
In the region of Guazábara -where the Amerindians worshiped the tree "Totujandi"- Captain Gregorio de Astigarreta built the hacienda San Jerónimo de los Ingenios, that was placed in jurisdiction of Guacari county, and where the village originally settled in 1797. The Cabildo of Cali created Pantanillo county with jurisdiction between the rivers Las Guabas and Nima, and in 1821 it was transferred
to the Canton of Buga, then it was finally moved to the land that was donated by ladies Petrona and Sebastiana Cárdenas.
The first Mass was offered by Father Manuel José Guzmán on August 30, 1825 and the place was named San Jerónimo. By Ordinance No. 21 of October 14, 1854 of the Legislature of Cauca, declared the creation of a district named Guzmán, as homage to the forementioned priest. The Ordinance of August 30, 1864 upgraded the district to a municipal district under the name of El Cerrito.
El Cerrito is also the main producer of 'Panderitos' baked goods produced with the flour of the cassava root.
Special mention also deserve the furniture manufacturing -especially in wood-, fruit crops and the promotion of tourism in hotels and restaurants in the mainly rural area. The cliffs of the area attract many tourists keen on extreme sports and tourism of exploration.
Among the desserts we may find the sponge cake
, the blancmange
and the amargo.
There are many varieties of fruit: grapes (and all its derivatives), chontaduro (fruit of the palm Bactris gasipaes), mangoes, bananas, oranges, papayas, medlar and caimos (Pouteria caimito).
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 Valle del Cauca
Valle del Cauca Department
Valle del Cauca is a department of Colombia. It is in the western side of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean, and it is considered one of the most important departments in the Republic of Colombia. Its capital is Santiago de Cali...
, 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...
. This is one of the 42 municipalities of the department.
The town is known for having within its jurisdiction the hacienda "El Paraíso", where the writer Jorge Isaacs
Jorge Isaacs
Jorge Isaacs Ferrer was a Colombian writer, politician and soldier. His only novel, María, became one of the most notable works of the Romantic movement in Spanish literature....
lived and set his novel María. Part of its territory also belongs to the Parque Nacional Natural Las Hermosas. Is situated 47 km east to Cali
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
, the capital of the department.
Toponim
The name of the municipality and the head is of SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
origin (El Cerrito translates literally into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as The Small Hill), and it refers to the hill where the population resides. It is a massif in the Colombian Andes Region.
Geography
It is located on a plain by the river that bears its name, on the western slope of the Cordillera Central.Its coordinates are between 1° 13' to 2° West longitude and 4° to 5° North latitude, at an altitude of 987 m
M
M is the thirteenth letter of the basic modern Latin alphabet.-History:The letter M is derived from the Phoenician Mem, via the Greek Mu . Semitic Mem probably originally pictured water...
over sea level and its average temperature is 24 °C.
Its topography comprises two areas: The first one is the mountainous western side of Cordillera Central
Cordillera Central
The Cordillera Central, meaning central range in Spanish, is used to refer to several mountain ranges around the world:* Cordillera Central, Andes , several mountain ranges in South America** Cordillera Central, Colombia...
; its highest peaks are Paramo de las Hermosas (3,500 meters high), the Cerro Pan de Azúcar
Cerro Pan de Azúcar
Cerro Pan de Azúcar is a hill and the third highest point of Uruguay, with an altitude of 423 metres .-Location and features:...
and El Alto de la Cruz. The second area is flat or slightly wavy and belongs to the valley of the Cauca River
Cauca River
The Cauca River is a river in Colombia that lies between the Occidental and Central cordilleras. Born in southwestern Colombia near the city of Popayán, it joins the Magdalena River near Pinillos in Bolívar Department, and the combined river eventually flows out into the Caribbean Sea. It has a...
. The territory corresponds to the thermal floors warm, half cold and wilderness. The hydrography of the municipality is composed by the rivers Amaime, Cauca, Cerrito
Cerrito
Club Sportivo Cerrito, usually known simply as Cerrito, is an Uruguayan football club based in Montevideo. They currently play in the Primera División Uruguaya...
and Sabaletas, along with several creeks and smaller streams, and the lagoon Three Americas.
Boundaries
This municipality is bordered by GuacariGuacari
Guacarí is a town and municipality located in the Department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia....
and Ginebra to the North, by Chaparral
Chaparral, Tolima
Chapparal is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 40,880 as of the 1993 census....
in 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 Tolima on the East, Palmira
Palmira
Palmira is a city and municipality in southwestern Colombia in the department of Valle del Cauca, located about east from Cali, the department's capital and main city.-Geography :...
to the south and by Vijes
Vijes
Vijes is a town and municipality located in the Department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia....
to the West.
Precinct and Districts
Their townships are: Santa Elena, El Placer, San Antonio, Santa Luisa, El Pomo, El Castillo, El Moral, El Carrizal, Aují, Los Andes and Tenerife.The municipal seat is divided into neighborhoods San Rafael, Santa Bárbara, Chapinero, Buenos Aires, Eduardo Cabal Molina, La Estrella, El Rosario, Sagrado Corazón, Álvaro Navia Prado, El Cincuentenario, La Esperanza, Sajonia, Pueblito Valluno, Coincer, Villa del Carmen, Los Samanes, Villa Cariño, Villa La Paz, Brisas de la Merced (El Teatrino), Nuevo Amanecer and El Porvenir.
A brief history
Sebastián de Belalcázar and his troops conquered this territory, that was populated by Native Pijaos, whounder the command of caciqueCacique
Cacique is a title derived from the Taíno word for the pre-Columbian chiefs or leaders of tribes in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles...
Calarcá were submitted by the Europeans.
An important figure in the era of conquest is Maria Luisa de la Espada, who was born in Canton Buga. Daughter of a Spaniard, she inherited the family's trust, writing a story and legend of charm that attracts thousands of tourists to walk the roads that climb to the district of Tenerife to visit the many houses on the road and the ruins of her castle.
In the region of Guazábara -where the Amerindians worshiped the tree "Totujandi"- Captain Gregorio de Astigarreta built the hacienda San Jerónimo de los Ingenios, that was placed in jurisdiction of Guacari county, and where the village originally settled in 1797. The Cabildo of Cali created Pantanillo county with jurisdiction between the rivers Las Guabas and Nima, and in 1821 it was transferred
to the Canton of Buga, then it was finally moved to the land that was donated by ladies Petrona and Sebastiana Cárdenas.
The first Mass was offered by Father Manuel José Guzmán on August 30, 1825 and the place was named San Jerónimo. By Ordinance No. 21 of October 14, 1854 of the Legislature of Cauca, declared the creation of a district named Guzmán, as homage to the forementioned priest. The Ordinance of August 30, 1864 upgraded the district to a municipal district under the name of El Cerrito.
Economy
Its main economic activities are cattle breeding (especially the processing of leather) and agriculture (grapes, sugar cane, corn, soybeans, rice, millet, beans, peppers and tropical flowers like orchids).El Cerrito is also the main producer of 'Panderitos' baked goods produced with the flour of the cassava root.
Special mention also deserve the furniture manufacturing -especially in wood-, fruit crops and the promotion of tourism in hotels and restaurants in the mainly rural area. The cliffs of the area attract many tourists keen on extreme sports and tourism of exploration.
Events
- Onion Festival in the village of Tenerife during August.
- Peasant's Festivities in the village of Auji, with the traditional child reign (July).
- Holy WeekHoly WeekHoly Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
(traditional). - Anniversary fairs.
- Grape's Festival in the village of Santa Elena.
- Blacks and Whites' Day in the village of El Placer.
- Kite contests during July and August.
- Celebrations in Honor of the Our Lady of ChiquinquiráChiquinquiráChiquinquirá is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the subregion of the Western Boyacá Province. Located some 115 km north of Bogotá, Chiquinquirá is 2570m above sea level and has a yearly average temperature 58°F....
. - Isaacsian Culture Festival Held by the Universitas Foundation Cultural Center (Casa de la Cultura).
Attractions for Tourism
Many colonial country properties (haciendas in Spanish) have great historical value, such as: El Albión, Trejitos, La Merced, La María, La Cruz, El Paraíso, Piedechinche, La Concepción, Novillero, La Argelia, La Aurora, San Miguel, Trapiche de San Fernando, El Hatico, Milán, El Trejo, Villa Mercedes and San Joaquín.- Casa Cural.
- Education Center "Pedro Antonio Molina".
- Education See "María Inmaculada".
- "El Trincho" bridge.
- Outdoors Theatre «Marina Arango».
- Hotel Club "El Paraíso".
- Ancient House of the Colegio "Jorge Isaacs".
- Universitas Cultural Center
- Railroad station and plazoleta (small square) Santa Bárbara.
- Municipal Football stadium «Alfredo Vásquez Cobo»
- Park "Francisco Antonio Rada"
- Former hospital's gate and cemetery.
- Gallery.
Roads
A road system connects El Cerrito with neighboring towns: Buga, Rozo (Palmira) and Costa Rica (Ginebra). It also has internal roads connecting with Ginebra.Catholic parishes in the Roman Catholic Church
The three parishes of El Cerrito belong to the diocese of Palmira: the parish of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, established by the founding of El Cerrito, the parish of Perpetual Help, founded July 16, 1990, and the Lord of Mercy Parish, established November 8, 2000.Other jurisdictions
It belongs also to the Judicial District of Cali, the Circle of Registry and Notary in Buga, and the electoral district of Valle del Cauca; it also holds a Notary Circle.Tourism
- Hacienda de El Paraíso (16 km from the municipal seat, on the road to Santa Elena, El Pomo and El Castillo, in the Cordillera Central). This is the place described in the novel María, by Jorge Isaacs (1867) and has become the most important tourist destination. From its name comes the name "Territorio Paraiso", used to refer to the tourist area between Guacara, Ginebra, El Cerrito and Palmira. It is located in the ski area called "Paseo de la olla" where you can also practice extreme sports like paraglidingParaglidingParagliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure...
, mountain bikingMountain bikingMountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, horse riding and canoeingCanoeingCanoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
.
- National Day of the Onion in Tenerife. It is one of the most famous and beautiful festivals and is considered as the "agricultural exemption of Valle del Cauca". You can admire palm wax as high as 70 meters.
- The museum of sugar cane, which is part of the Hacienda Piedechinche, in the town center. The House of Piedechinche hacienda, built in the eighteenth century, is a typical demonstration of vallecaucana colonial architecture. The furniture and furnishings of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, acquired from different collections in the country, are characteristic of an ancient house. This area of the department of Valle del Cauca was the cradle of the first sugar mills that gave rise to industry.
- The Farmer's Celebration in Ajui. It is a rural community celebration, made in the district of Auji as part of celebrations for the Our Lady of Carmen. It displays a great cultural and festive variety, and it spreads the community's values in events like the "Reinado infantil campesino" (child's peasant kingship).
Project Territorio Paraíso
It is a Government's project that includes the expansion of roads, legal and economic incentives for the development of tourism in the municipalities of Guacara, Ginebra, El Cerrito and Palmira.Gastronomy
Among the dishes we can find the arroz atollado (rice dish), the sancocho (soup), the pandebono (sandwiches) and empanada.Among the desserts we may find the sponge cake
Sponge cake
Sponge cake is a cake based on flour , sugar, and eggs, sometimes leavened with baking powder which has a firm, yet well aerated structure, similar to a sea sponge. A sponge cake may be produced by either the batter method, or the foam method. Typicially the batter method in the U.S. is known as a...
, the blancmange
Blancmange
Blancmange is a sweet dessert commonly made with milk or cream and sugar thickened with gelatin, cornstarch or Irish moss, and often flavored with almonds. It is usually set in a mould and served cold. Although traditionally white, blancmanges are frequently given a pink color as well...
and the amargo.
There are many varieties of fruit: grapes (and all its derivatives), chontaduro (fruit of the palm Bactris gasipaes), mangoes, bananas, oranges, papayas, medlar and caimos (Pouteria caimito).
Independence Period
- José María Cabal (general during the War of Independence of Nueva Granada) born in the hacienda de la Concepción del Alisal,El Cerrito on 25 May 1769 (when it belonged to the canton of Buga, which is why he is honored to Buga). He participated with Antonio Nariño in the enactment of Human Rights, and for this case he was confined to Europe. He fought against Juan Samano in Cauca, defending the city of Popayán, won the battle of Río Palo, in the municipality of Caloto, Cauca. Later he returned to his hacienda, where he was captured and transferred to Popayán; there he was shot on the main square, 19 August 1816.
- María Antonia Ruiz, the "black heroine", grown on the hacienda of San Agustín; after the beginning of the independence movements, she vowed to Colonel Joaquín Riascos that she would give his life if necessary for freedom. When the Royalist troops led by Simón Muñoz came to the hacienda, María Antonia went with a group of soldiers armed with a drum and a battle trumpet , shouting: "Long live the Motherland," "Long live the victorious Army of Boyacá!" "Long live the Free Cauca." Muñoz -who thought it was the whole Republican Army- then withdrew to Bermúdez Tulu. Thanks to this heroic act, Simón BolívarSimón BolívarSimón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
himself visited her in her hacienda in San Agustín.
- The History also mentions the names of José Julián Arango Ruiz and José Toribio Arango Ruiz.
Twentieth century
- Francisco Antonio Campo: Catholic priest of the town.
- Francisco Antonio Rada: Catholic priest of the town.
- Henry Nieto Navia (July 2, 1945 - May 22, 2007), son of Alfredo Nieto G. and Rosa E. Navia Varón, he completed his studies in El Cerrito, Valle Central Gymnasium (Buga), and in the Santiago de Cali University (Cali). He obtained his Law degree in 1970, and he practiced as a judge in Buenaventura. Being a founding member of Universitas Cultural Center (May 22, 1966), he remained active until his death. He was ordained a priest on November 27, 1982 and served as parish priest of Santa Elena (the district of El Cerrito), Candelaria, the parish of San Cayetano and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary of Palmar in Palmira. Devout of the Lord of Divine Mercy, promoted this devotion to implement the children's procession during Holy Week in Palmira and created some groups of apostolate and secular work. He made his humanitarian work mainly in Tumaco, Nariño.
- Álvaro José Domínguez Cabezas, soccer player.