Sáchica

Sáchica is a municipality of Colombia situated approximately 34 km (21 mi) west of Tunja in the Ricaurte Province of the department of Boyacá. Sáchica borders Sutamarchán and Villa de Leyva in the north, in the east Chíquiza, Samacá and Ráquira in the south and in the west Ráquira and Sutamarchán.[1] Sáchica is known as the national capital of onions.[1]

Sáchica
Municipality and town
Church of Sáchica
Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): 
City of onions
Location of the municipality and town of Sáchica in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country Colombia
DepartmentBoyacá Department
ProvinceRicaurte Province
Founded16 July 1556
Founded byJuan Velasco and Carlos Rojas
Government
 • MayorHugo Buitrago
(2020-2023)
Area
 • Municipality and town62.4 km2 (24.1 sq mi)
Elevation
2,150 m (7,050 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • Municipality and town3,791
 • Density61/km2 (160/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,875
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

History

In the centuries before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores, Sáchica was ruled by a cacique loyal to the zaque of Hunza. Evidence of long inhabitation has been found in the form of petroglyphs made by the Muisca who were organized in the Muisca Confederation. The Muisca had their own religion where their main gods were Sué (the Sun) and Chía; the Moon. In Sáchica monuments to both celestial bodies have been constructed.

Modern Sáchica was founded on July 16th, 1556 by Juan Velasco and Carlos Rojas.[1] In 1574 a total of 2500 indigenous people were living in Sáchica, presently only 5% is indigenous, the remainder mestizo.[1]

In the Chibcha language of the Muisca, Sáchica means "our present domain",[2] "fortress" or "mansion of the sovereign".[1]

Rock art
Rock art in Sáchica
Pictographs

In a rock shelter in Sáchica, rock art in the form of pictographs has been discovered. The archaeologist Eliécer Silva Celis pioneered in the study of them in the 1960s. Later research has been performed by Carl Henrik Langebaek, Diego Martínez, Álvaro Botiva, Pedro Argüello García, and others. The black, red and white rock art is present at an altitude of 2,210 m (7,250 ft) at 5°35′29.058″N 73°31′15.926″W and shows human faces, Suns, maize, eyes, mountains, masks, and other figures.[3] The rock art has been produced in rock shelters of Lower Cretaceous formations.[4]

Economy

Sachiquense economy is based on religious tourism, agriculture; onions and tomatoes, and mining; gypsum, marble and clay.[1]

Trivia
  • Central square and church
  • Central square
  • Church interior
  • Gondava Lake
  • View of Sáchica
  • View of Sáchica
  • View of Sáchica
  • View of Sáchica
  • Farmlands
  • Farmlands
  • Onion fields
  • Sedimentary rocks
  • Monument to the Sun
  • Monument to the Moon
Panorama of Sáchica
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References
  1. (in Spanish) Official website Sáchica - accessed 07-05-2016
  2. (in Spanish) Etymology Sáchica - accessed 07-05-2016
  3. (in Spanish) Las pictografias de Sáchica desde las narraciones orales de sus vecinos - Rupestreweb
  4. Silva Celis, 1962, p.12

Bibliography

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