Guaduas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Villa de Guaduas

Villa de San Miguel de las Guaduas

Municipality and town

Flag

Seal

Nickname(s):

Guaduas

Motto(s):

Confianza y Desarrollo

Location of the town and municipality of Guaduas in Cundinamarca Department.

Guaduas

Location in Colombia

Bajo Magdalena

Natural region

Andean Region

Settled around

1549

Established

December 13, 1610

Founded

December 27, 1644

Government

• Type

Municipality

Area

• Municipality and town

763.7 km² (294.9 sq mi)

• Urban

8.51 km² (3.29 sq mi)

Elevation

992 m (3,255 ft)

Population

(2020 est.)

• Municipality and town

33,212

• Density

43.488/km² (112.634/sq mi)

• Urban

15,862

• Urban density

1,863.9/km² (4,827.5/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

guadeño, -ña (es)

Website

http://www.villadeguaduas.gov.co

Guaduas is a town and municipality in Colombia. It is located in the Cundinamarca region, about 117 kilometers (73 miles) from Bogotá, the capital city. Guaduas is an important center for farming and tourism. Around 33,000 people live in the municipality. The town's name comes from a type of bamboo cane that grows there. Guaduas is also on the main highway connecting Bogotá and Medellín. The town's main square is even shown on Colombia's ten-thousand pesos bill. It is also one of the main places for the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Dorada–Guaduas.

A Look Back: The History of Guaduas
- Early Settlements and Growth
- Guaduas as a Center for Learning
The 7 Wonders of Guaduas
Famous People from Guaduas
Images for kids
See also

A Look Back: The History of Guaduas

The first people to live in the "Valley of the Guaduas" were the native Panche people. This area was an important stop on the road from Santafé de Bogotá to Honda. It was a small, fertile valley.

Early Settlements and Growth

The town was first started on April 20, 1572, by Andrés Díaz Venero de Leiva. However, it was later left empty. On December 13, 1610, a friar named Tomas de Morales founded the Franciscan monastery of La Soledad in the same spot. Guaduas was officially recognized as a villa (a type of town) on December 27, 1644. It was formally re-founded by Francisco Pérez de Guzmán.

In 1696, Guaduas became a parish seat. This happened thanks to a special order from King Charles II. The old monastery was closed around 1805. In 1809, a Capuchin architect named Fray Domingo de Petres started building a church in the village. He also helped build the Cathedral of Bogotá. The original monastery building was later turned into a prison. This change was ordered by the Congress of Cucuta.

Guaduas as a Center for Learning

Guaduas was a place where new plants were tested. For example, níspero trees were brought from the West Indies in the late 1700s. These trees are now widely grown in the area.

The region's constitution in 1815 made Guaduas a canton (a small district). In 1824, it became part of the province of Bogotá. The town grew quickly after that. The first official school opened in 1833. Guaduas became a provincial capital in 1857. Four years later, the local hospital was founded. In 1871, the town was connected to the national telegraph network.

In 2010, the Colombian government declared Guaduas a Pueblo Patrimonio (heritage town). This was done to recognize its important history. The town's official song was written by Miguel Raga Fernández, who was born in Guaduas.

The 7 Wonders of Guaduas

In 2007, the schools in Guaduas chose seven important places or features in the area. These are known as the "7 Wonders of Guaduas":

Salavarrieta Policarpa House Museum: This is the house where Policarpa Salavarrieta, a national heroine, was born and lived.
Convento de la Soledad: This building now houses the local government. Famous leaders like Simon Bolívar and Antonio Nariño are known to have stayed here. It was built by Father Thomas Morales on December 13, 1610, and was the town's first colonial building.
Aboriginal settlement: This site is about 22 kilometers (14 miles) from the town. Old tools and items from around 200 BC are still found here. Fossilized stones and other samples are also discovered regularly.
Mirador Piedra Capira: This is a viewpoint that offers amazing views of the region. You can see the snow-covered Magdalena Ruiz, Santa Isabel, and Tolima mountains from here.
Waterfall of Versalles: This beautiful natural spot is located in the Guaduas municipality. Three streams meet here, creating waterfalls that are more than 20 meters (65 feet) high.
Navarro bridge: This bridge opened on January 16, 1899. It was declared a National Monument on May 10, 1994. It is important for its design, beauty, and its role in Colombia's history. It is also a great example of engineering in Colombia.
Puerto Gallot: This site is 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Puerto Bogota. It was the first river port in the new Kingdom of Granada. You can still see well-preserved colonial buildings here.

Famous People from Guaduas

Guaduas is the birthplace of several important figures:

Policarpa Salavarrieta: A national heroine of Colombia.
Joaquín Acosta: A well-known geologist and historian.
Francisco Javier Matis: A painter and botanist. He was born in Guaduas in 1774. As a child, he showed great talent for painting. In 1783, he joined the wise naturalist José Celestino Mutis.