Pereira, Colombia
Encyclopedia
Pereira is the capital city of the Colombia
n department
of Risaralda
. It stands in the center of the western region of the country, located in a small valley
that descends from a part of the western Andes
mountain
chain. Its strategic location in the coffee
producing area makes the city an urban center in Colombia
, as does its proximity to Bogotá
, Cali
and Medellín
. In 2004 it reported a population of 576,329.
, known for their artworks in gold. The Spaniards established their first settlement in the area around the year 1540. The town of Cartago
was first founded here by the conquistators Jorge Robledo and Diego de Mendoza; it was then moved around 1691 to the place where it is today.
In 1816, the brothers José Francisco and Manuel Pereira took shelter in the area after the defeat of Simón Bolivar
and his army at the battle of Cachirí. Francisco Pereira Martinez wanted to found a city on this ground, as a shelter from the Spanish. On August 24, 1863, four days after Pereira's death, priest Remigio Antonio Cañarte headed a caravan from Cartago, and founded the city of Pereira six days later (August 30) where presently is the "Plaza de Bolivar".
In time, settlers from Antioquia
occupied the area and established themselves in the city. Pereira was favored by its economically strategic location, fertile soil, and good weather. The settlers grew large quantities of high-quality coffee
in the mineral-rich volcanic Andean soil; this is still the most important crop produced in the area, which is in the center of the so-called "coffee axis" (eje cafetero) region.
Migrants have come to Pereira also from Valle del Cauca, Bogotá
, and other major Colombian cities. However, during the economic recession of 1999, and the low-growth years of 2000 and 2001, many Pereirans emigrated to the United States and Spain.
Rural townships of Pereira include Altagracia, Arabia, Caimalito, Cerritos, La Florida, Puerto Caldas, Combia Alta, Combia Baja, La Bella, Estrella- La Palmilla, Morelia, Tribunas.
Pereira, along with La Virginia and Dosquebradas, forms the Area Metropolitana de Centro Occidente, or AMCO.
Agriculture is diversified city has about 35 types of cultivation of which 70% is under permanent crops, 8% are annual crops and 22% are transients to get bread, but in turn the value added is concentrated in coffee. Livestock activities are gaining importance. The manufacturing industry including clothing manufacture.
The city is a logistics hub between minor and bigger cities in the distribution of goods, three cities (Manizales, Armenia, Dosquebradas) being at 50 minutes by car from Pereira. Trade is the second employment-generating activity, with several shopping centers.
The municipality has executed works in civil engineering works, has renovated water supply, gas, road and telecommunications networks.
This feature shaping climate and soils, also offers a variety of vegetation and landscape, and making possible the municipality of Pereira with one of the richest biodiversity in the nation. However, the city appears as a zone of high seismic vulnerability of soil types that comprise and fault lines that cross. Its average temperature is 22 degrees Celsius.
, Marseille Dosquebradas
in northeast Santa Rosa de Cabal
and east by the department of Tolima, south with the departments of Quindío and Valle del Cauca, west with the municipality of Balboa and the department of Valle del Cauca. Pereira is the first urban center in the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis
Pereira is on the central mountains, the valley of the river Otún, and part of the Cauca river valley, Pereira like many Colombian cities, has high areas of difficult access or flat spots or a little steep, the streets of the city made pursuant to the relief of the area, the Avenida case as the river that crosses the river valley Otún, so it has few hills but several ondulcaiones side.
Most of the municipal territory corresponds to the relief of the Cordillera Central. Among the accidents highlight the snowy terrain of Quindio, del Ruiz and Santa Isabel, located on the borders with the departments of Quindio, Caldas and Tolima respectively. It also has other features such as Santa Barbara, also known as the Alto del Nudo. The hydrographic system of the municipality includes the rivers Cauca
, Barbas, Old, Otún and Consota, with its many tributaries. It's broken relief, has a variety of climates, thermal levels by presenting the following: warm, 60 km², middle, 367 km², cold, 70 km² and moorland, with 107 km².
. Pereira also has a twin city, Dosquebradas
, some five minutes drive from the Plaza de Bolivar, which has approximately 200,000 inhabitants. Neighboring cities, Cartago (35 minutes away), La Virginia (25 min), and Santa Rosa de Cabal
(15 min.) have another 210,000 inhabitants, for a total of about 986,000, making the area one of the most crowded urban areas in Colombia. Pereira, Dosquebradas and La Virginia comprise the Metropolitan Area. These three cities are connected via a massive transport system of articulated buses called Megabús
; which is projected to be expanded later on to Cartago and Santa Rosa de Cabal. The first stage of the system was inaugurated on 21st of August 2006.
to the Lake Otún
and Santa Isabel
, all located within the municipality, provide scenarios for activities ranging from sports adventure tourism. Pereira is also known as "night city" for its bars and nightclubs.
The Matecaña City Zoo
houses numerous animal species, and has train
travelling around the park. The planetarium
and botanical garden of Pereira Technological University
, located in the Technological University of Pereira
, are places of cultural and educational interest. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Poverty, is religious architectural heritage of the city and the world. The Cultural Centre "Lucy Tejada, the Museum of Art Pereira, Jaime Mejia Archaeological Museum and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima are sites to visit.
Noah's Farm, located in the recreation center Confamiliar is an eco-park, providing interaction with the animals, fauna and flora of the place and the agricultural life of the region. Right there is a spa with pools, slides and green areas. Other sports venues to be found in the city would be the bowling, and the Olympic Village complex which is composed of Olympic pools, tennis courts, basketball and the velodrome.
The Los Nevados National Natural Park, encompasses a wide strip east of the department of Risaralda, offers a view of the Nevada del Ruiz, Tolima and Santa Isabel and the Laguna del Otun, birthplace of crossing the Rio Otún city of Pereira. The Botanical Garden of Marseille (municipality located 45 minutes from downtown) has an eco-trail, decorated with flora and fauna of the region.
projected rapid industrial to fifth place in the country, after Bogotá, Cali, Medellin, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga is currently fifth.
i
Other monuments in the city include:
, which offers undergraduate and graduate courses on a campus of more than six hectares, with botanical gardens. Other universities include the Popular Catholic University of Risaralda and the Free University of Colombia
, Andina University, the Cooperative University of Colombia, the National University of Colombia
Distance Learning branch, the Saint Thomas Aquinas University
branch, CEIPA University, Antonio Nariño University, and the Autonomous University of the Americas. It also has a number of training institutions associated with the National Learning Service (SENA).
, which plays in the Colombian Primera A.
The city is home to the Hernán Ramírez Villegas stadium
, a velodrome, a skating area, an Olympic swimming pool and a motocross track.
Pereira is also home to a "coffee marathon". Now Pereira has become a city of sports - during the year many important championships takes part here, for example motorcicle races and the Word Cup of Football Sub 20 which starts in August 2011.
The Matecaña International Airport was built between the period of 1944 and 1946 and was officially opened in August 1947. It operates both nationally and internationally. Perhaps most importantly, this airport is capable of receiving a variety of different aircraft, including the Fokker 100, Boeing 737 and the huge Airbus A320. In this way, the Matecaña International Airport is one of the most important airports in Colombia.
, Spain
Gainesville
, USA Lisboa, Portugal
Montreal
, Canada
Oxford
, United Kingdom
Valencia, Spain
Palma, Spain
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
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 Risaralda
Risaralda Department
Risaralda is a department of Colombia. It is located in the western central region of the country and part of the Paisa Region. Its capital is Pereira.It was divided from the department of Caldas in 1966...
. It stands in the center of the western region of the country, located in a small valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
that descends from a part of the western Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
chain. Its strategic location in the coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
producing area makes the city an urban center in 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...
, as does its proximity to 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...
, 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:...
and Medellín
Medellín
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...
. In 2004 it reported a population of 576,329.
History
The area of Pereira was inhabited, before the European colonization, by the QuimbayaQuimbaya civilization
The Quimbaya civilization is a South American civilization, noted for spectacular gold work characterized by technical accuracy and detailed designs. The majority of the gold work is made in tumbaga alloy, with 30% copper, which imparts beautiful color tonalities to the pieces...
, known for their artworks in gold. The Spaniards established their first settlement in the area around the year 1540. The town of Cartago
Cartago, Valle del Cauca
Cartago is a city in southwestern Colombia, about 187 miles west of Bogotá. It is in the extreme northern portion of the Valle del Cauca Department. It is located very close to the city of Pereira, about a 20 minute drive. It is the fourth largest city in Valle after Cali, Palmira, and Tuluá...
was first founded here by the conquistators Jorge Robledo and Diego de Mendoza; it was then moved around 1691 to the place where it is today.
In 1816, the brothers José Francisco and Manuel Pereira took shelter in the area after the defeat of Simón Bolivar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
and his army at the battle of Cachirí. Francisco Pereira Martinez wanted to found a city on this ground, as a shelter from the Spanish. On August 24, 1863, four days after Pereira's death, priest Remigio Antonio Cañarte headed a caravan from Cartago, and founded the city of Pereira six days later (August 30) where presently is the "Plaza de Bolivar".
In time, settlers from Antioquia
Antioquia Department
Antioquia is one of the 32 departments of Colombia, located in the central northwestern part of Colombia with a narrow section that borders the Caribbean Sea. Most of its territory is mountainous with some valleys, much of which is part of the Andes mountain range...
occupied the area and established themselves in the city. Pereira was favored by its economically strategic location, fertile soil, and good weather. The settlers grew large quantities of high-quality coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
in the mineral-rich volcanic Andean soil; this is still the most important crop produced in the area, which is in the center of the so-called "coffee axis" (eje cafetero) region.
Migrants have come to Pereira also from Valle del Cauca, 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...
, and other major Colombian cities. However, during the economic recession of 1999, and the low-growth years of 2000 and 2001, many Pereirans emigrated to the United States and Spain.
Politics and administration
Pereira is divided into 19 municipalities: Ferrocarril, Olímpica, San Joaquín, Cuba, Del Café, El oso, Perla del Otún, Consota, El Rocío, El poblado, El jardín, San Nicolás, Centro, Río Otún, Boston, Universidad, Villavicencio, Oriente y Villasantana.Rural townships of Pereira include Altagracia, Arabia, Caimalito, Cerritos, La Florida, Puerto Caldas, Combia Alta, Combia Baja, La Bella, Estrella- La Palmilla, Morelia, Tribunas.
Pereira, along with La Virginia and Dosquebradas, forms the Area Metropolitana de Centro Occidente, or AMCO.
Economy
The municipality of Pereira has a diversified economy: the primary sector accounts for 5.7% of domestic product, the secondary sector shows a relative weight of 26.2%, while the tertiary sector is the most representative with a 68.1%. The GDP of Pereira grew by 3.7% in 2004.Agriculture is diversified city has about 35 types of cultivation of which 70% is under permanent crops, 8% are annual crops and 22% are transients to get bread, but in turn the value added is concentrated in coffee. Livestock activities are gaining importance. The manufacturing industry including clothing manufacture.
The city is a logistics hub between minor and bigger cities in the distribution of goods, three cities (Manizales, Armenia, Dosquebradas) being at 50 minutes by car from Pereira. Trade is the second employment-generating activity, with several shopping centers.
The municipality has executed works in civil engineering works, has renovated water supply, gas, road and telecommunications networks.
Climate
Pereira's climate ranges from the following topics: Climate warm 9.9%, 60.7% average weather, cold weather, 11.5%, 17.7% moorland, its annual average rainfall of 2,750 mm.This feature shaping climate and soils, also offers a variety of vegetation and landscape, and making possible the municipality of Pereira with one of the richest biodiversity in the nation. However, the city appears as a zone of high seismic vulnerability of soil types that comprise and fault lines that cross. Its average temperature is 22 degrees Celsius.
Geography
The municipal area is 702 km², bordered on the north by the municipalities of La VirginiaLa Virginia
La Virginia is a town and municipality in the Department of Risaralda, Colombia....
, Marseille Dosquebradas
Dosquebradas
Dosquebradas is the second largest city and a municipality in the Risaralda Department, Colombia. , it had a population of approximately 200,000 inhabitants. The city is connected by the César Gaviria Trujillo Viaduct to Pereira, the capital of the department....
in northeast Santa Rosa de Cabal
Santa Rosa de Cabal
Santa Rosa de Cabal is a town and municipality in the Risaralda Department, west central Colombia, on the western slopes of the Andean Cordillera Central. It is a commercial and manufacturing centre for the fertile agricultural and pastoral hinterland...
and east by the department of Tolima, south with the departments of Quindío and Valle del Cauca, west with the municipality of Balboa and the department of Valle del Cauca. Pereira is the first urban center in the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis
Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis
Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis , also known as Coffee Triangle is a part of the Colombian Paisa region which is famous for growing and production of a majority of the Colombian coffee, considered by some as the best coffee in the world. There are three departments in the area: Caldas, Quindío and...
Pereira is on the central mountains, the valley of the river Otún, and part of the Cauca river valley, Pereira like many Colombian cities, has high areas of difficult access or flat spots or a little steep, the streets of the city made pursuant to the relief of the area, the Avenida case as the river that crosses the river valley Otún, so it has few hills but several ondulcaiones side.
Most of the municipal territory corresponds to the relief of the Cordillera Central. Among the accidents highlight the snowy terrain of Quindio, del Ruiz and Santa Isabel, located on the borders with the departments of Quindio, Caldas and Tolima respectively. It also has other features such as Santa Barbara, also known as the Alto del Nudo. The hydrographic system of the municipality includes the rivers Cauca
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...
, Barbas, Old, Otún and Consota, with its many tributaries. It's broken relief, has a variety of climates, thermal levels by presenting the following: warm, 60 km², middle, 367 km², cold, 70 km² and moorland, with 107 km².
Demographics
The population is believed to be approximately 576,329 inhabitants as of 2005, making it the sixth biggest city in ColombiaColombia
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...
. Pereira also has a twin city, Dosquebradas
Dosquebradas
Dosquebradas is the second largest city and a municipality in the Risaralda Department, Colombia. , it had a population of approximately 200,000 inhabitants. The city is connected by the César Gaviria Trujillo Viaduct to Pereira, the capital of the department....
, some five minutes drive from the Plaza de Bolivar, which has approximately 200,000 inhabitants. Neighboring cities, Cartago (35 minutes away), La Virginia (25 min), and Santa Rosa de Cabal
Santa Rosa de Cabal
Santa Rosa de Cabal is a town and municipality in the Risaralda Department, west central Colombia, on the western slopes of the Andean Cordillera Central. It is a commercial and manufacturing centre for the fertile agricultural and pastoral hinterland...
(15 min.) have another 210,000 inhabitants, for a total of about 986,000, making the area one of the most crowded urban areas in Colombia. Pereira, Dosquebradas and La Virginia comprise the Metropolitan Area. These three cities are connected via a massive transport system of articulated buses called Megabús
Megabús
The Megabús is a bus rapid transit system that serves the cities of Pereira and Dosquebradas in Colombia. The Megabús covers the most parts of the cities using the Av. 30 de Agosto and the Av. del Ferrocarril in Pereira, and the Av. Simon Bolívar in Dosquebradas. There are also used the Carrera...
; which is projected to be expanded later on to Cartago and Santa Rosa de Cabal. The first stage of the system was inaugurated on 21st of August 2006.
Tourism
As far as tourism, from Matecaña City ZooMatecaña City Zoo
The Matecaña City Zoo is located in Pereira, Colombia, the work of the Society of Public Improvements Pereira, who on January 26, 1951, through a management buy the of farm Matecaña...
to the Lake Otún
Lake Otún
Lake Otún is a small lake in the Nevados National Park, in the Risaralda department of Colombia. It located at an altitude of 3,900 meters and has an area of 1.5 square kilometres. The lake is of glacial origin and is fed by meltwaters from the Nevado Santa Isabel...
and Santa Isabel
Santa Isabel (volcano)
Santa Isabel is a shield volcano located in Tolima Department, Colombia, southwest of Nevado del Ruiz volcano....
, all located within the municipality, provide scenarios for activities ranging from sports adventure tourism. Pereira is also known as "night city" for its bars and nightclubs.
The Matecaña City Zoo
Matecaña City Zoo
The Matecaña City Zoo is located in Pereira, Colombia, the work of the Society of Public Improvements Pereira, who on January 26, 1951, through a management buy the of farm Matecaña...
houses numerous animal species, and has train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
travelling around the park. The planetarium
Planetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
and botanical garden of Pereira Technological University
Technological University of Pereira Botanic Garden
The Botanical Garden of the Technological University of Pereira , Pereira, Colombia is an important research, conservation and environmental education facility....
, located in the Technological University of Pereira
Technological University of Pereira
The Technological University of Pereira , is a public, national, coeducational, research university based in the city of Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia....
, are places of cultural and educational interest. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Poverty, is religious architectural heritage of the city and the world. The Cultural Centre "Lucy Tejada, the Museum of Art Pereira, Jaime Mejia Archaeological Museum and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima are sites to visit.
Noah's Farm, located in the recreation center Confamiliar is an eco-park, providing interaction with the animals, fauna and flora of the place and the agricultural life of the region. Right there is a spa with pools, slides and green areas. Other sports venues to be found in the city would be the bowling, and the Olympic Village complex which is composed of Olympic pools, tennis courts, basketball and the velodrome.
The Los Nevados National Natural Park, encompasses a wide strip east of the department of Risaralda, offers a view of the Nevada del Ruiz, Tolima and Santa Isabel and the Laguna del Otun, birthplace of crossing the Rio Otún city of Pereira. The Botanical Garden of Marseille (municipality located 45 minutes from downtown) has an eco-trail, decorated with flora and fauna of the region.
projected rapid industrial to fifth place in the country, after Bogotá, Cali, Medellin, Barranquilla and Bucaramanga is currently fifth.
i
Main sights
- The Plaza de Bolívar, the main square in the center of the city, houses to the "Naked Bolívar" (Spanish: 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...
desnudo) monument. The area is the focus of commercial and financial activities. The most important activities in the city take place here. - The César Gaviria Trujillo ViaductCésar Gaviria Trujillo ViaductThe César Gaviria Trujillo Viaduct is a cable-stayed bridge connecting the neighbouring cities of Pereira and Dosquebradas in Risaralda, Colombia. It is one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in South America and, at the time of its completion in 1997, ranked 20th in the world.The bridge has a...
is one of the symbols of the city along. Finished in 1998, it is one of the longest cable-stayed bridgeCable-stayed bridgeA cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
s in South America. The bridge is named in honor of the 40th president of Colombia, César GaviriaCésar GaviriaCésar Gaviria Trujillo is a Colombian politician and a Latin American statesman. He served as President of Colombia from 1990 to 1994, and Secretary General of the Organization of American States from 1994 until 2004.-Early life:...
, who was born in Pereira. The bridge connects Pereira with its neighboring city of Dosquebradas, and provides a connection for road traffic between the cities of Pereira and ManizalesManizalesManizales is a city and municipality in central Colombia, capital of Department of Caldas and part of the region of Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis, near the Nevado del Ruiz volcano....
. - Victoria's City Square, is the most important public hall in the city. didas store, Puma's store, Emporium's jeans store and others.
- The Matecaña City ZooMatecaña City ZooThe Matecaña City Zoo is located in Pereira, Colombia, the work of the Society of Public Improvements Pereira, who on January 26, 1951, through a management buy the of farm Matecaña...
is the largest in ColombiaColombiaColombia, 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 one of the largest in South AmericaSouth AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
; it is internationally recognized for leading investigations in the preservation of animalAnimalAnimals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
life. It has also a Natural History Museum, and houses, among the others, a ligreLigréLigré is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.-See also:*Communes of the Indre-et-Loire department...
, a combination of a tiger and a lion.
Other monuments in the city include:
- "Monument to the Founders", by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur
- "Prometheus Bound", by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, at the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira
- "Christ without the cross", by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, at the Our Lady of Fatima Church
- "The Rebecca", by Larry Mendez. Circunvalar Park Avenue Cardigan.
- "Train: Monument of transport", facing the Transportation Terminal.
- Jorge Eliecer Gaitan: Alexandra Ariza. Jorge Eliecer Gaitan Park, opposite the St. George Hospital.
- The Obelisk by Hernando Hoyos
- "Diana of the GAVI and the young of Jar"
- "General Rafael Uribe Uribe" by Franco A. Cano
- "The Traveler" by Antonio Segui
Education
The city has several schools and universities. Among the most prominent is the Technological University of PereiraTechnological University of Pereira
The Technological University of Pereira , is a public, national, coeducational, research university based in the city of Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia....
, which offers undergraduate and graduate courses on a campus of more than six hectares, with botanical gardens. Other universities include the Popular Catholic University of Risaralda and the Free University of Colombia
Free University of Colombia
Universidad Libre is a university in Colombia initially founded under the name of Universidad Republicana in Bogota during the 19th Century. Since the original intention of this program was to offer the space for unbiased learning during a radical political period in the country, the proper...
, Andina University, the Cooperative University of Colombia, the National University of Colombia
National University of Colombia
The Universidad Nacional de Colombia , also called UNAL or just UN, is a public, national, coeducational, research university, located primarily in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Palmira, Colombia...
Distance Learning branch, the Saint Thomas Aquinas University
Saint Thomas Aquinas University
Saint Thomas University is a Roman Catholic university located in Bogotá, Colombia. It is the oldest Colombian university, founded in 1580 by the Dominican Order....
branch, CEIPA University, Antonio Nariño University, and the Autonomous University of the Americas. It also has a number of training institutions associated with the National Learning Service (SENA).
Popular culture
In addition, the first settlers created a festival to promote the city, this celebration was made in the anniversary of the city (which conveniently coincided with the harvest), they decided to name it "Harvest Fest" (Fiestas de la cosecha); this festivity was promoted widely across the country, and, eventually became a major one, that generated several phrases that still survive in the lexic of Colombians as: "asi no vamos a llegar a ningún Pereira" (which could be translated as: this way, we're not going to arrive to Pereira, which is used to mean that the actions taken aren't useful to achieve a goal), "hicieron su Agosto" ("they made their August" meaning that someone made a really good deal, due that everyone used to sell all its merchandise at the festivities of the city).Sports
Pereira's main football team is the Deportivo PereiraDeportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira is a professional soccer team of the Colombian city of Pereira. Founded in 1944, its traditional colors are red and yellow. It plays in the Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas.-History:...
, which plays in the Colombian Primera A.
The city is home to the Hernán Ramírez Villegas stadium
Estadio Hernan Ramirez Villegas
Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas is a multi-purpose stadium in Pereira, Colombia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It is also the home of Deportivo Pereira. The stadium holds 30,313 people. The stadium was built in 1971. The stadium is now under reconstruction for the FIFA U-20...
, a velodrome, a skating area, an Olympic swimming pool and a motocross track.
Pereira is also home to a "coffee marathon". Now Pereira has become a city of sports - during the year many important championships takes part here, for example motorcicle races and the Word Cup of Football Sub 20 which starts in August 2011.
Religion
Like many Colombian cities, the predominante religion is the Roman Catholic Church. Many Protestant churches have been established in the city in recent years, bringing together thousands of people and forming one of the largest Protestant churches in ColombiaColombia
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...
Airport
- Matecaña International AirportMatecaña International AirportMatecaña International Airport is an airport located in the city of Pereira, Colombia. It connects the Risaralda department of Colombia. It also serves the cities of Armenia, Cartago, and Manizales in emergency situations....
The Matecaña International Airport was built between the period of 1944 and 1946 and was officially opened in August 1947. It operates both nationally and internationally. Perhaps most importantly, this airport is capable of receiving a variety of different aircraft, including the Fokker 100, Boeing 737 and the huge Airbus A320. In this way, the Matecaña International Airport is one of the most important airports in Colombia.
Sister cities
BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, USA Lisboa, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Valencia, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Palma, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
See also
- 1999 Armenia earthquake
- Matecaña International AirportMatecaña International AirportMatecaña International Airport is an airport located in the city of Pereira, Colombia. It connects the Risaralda department of Colombia. It also serves the cities of Armenia, Cartago, and Manizales in emergency situations....
- César Gaviria Trujillo ViaductCésar Gaviria Trujillo ViaductThe César Gaviria Trujillo Viaduct is a cable-stayed bridge connecting the neighbouring cities of Pereira and Dosquebradas in Risaralda, Colombia. It is one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in South America and, at the time of its completion in 1997, ranked 20th in the world.The bridge has a...
- Matecaña City ZooMatecaña City ZooThe Matecaña City Zoo is located in Pereira, Colombia, the work of the Society of Public Improvements Pereira, who on January 26, 1951, through a management buy the of farm Matecaña...
- Technological University of PereiraTechnological University of PereiraThe Technological University of Pereira , is a public, national, coeducational, research university based in the city of Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia....
- Deportivo PereiraDeportivo PereiraDeportivo Pereira is a professional soccer team of the Colombian city of Pereira. Founded in 1944, its traditional colors are red and yellow. It plays in the Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas.-History:...