Santiago de Cali
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| Santiago de Cali | |||
|
|||
| Nickname: "Branch of Heaven" | |||
| Location of the municipality and city of Cali in the Valle del Cauca Department. | |||
| Region | Pacific Region (Colombia) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Department | Valle del Cauca Department* | ||
| Foundation | July 25, 1536 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Ramiro Tafur | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 4,977.96 km² (1,922 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2005)[3] | |||
| - Total | 2,068,386 | ||
| - Density | 4,372/km² (11,323.4/sq mi) | ||
| * | |||
| Website: www.cali.gov.co | |||
Santiago de Cali (IPA: [sanˈtjaɰo ð̞e ˈkali]), often shortened to Cali, is the main city, municipality and capital of the Valle del Cauca, a department in western Colombia. With a population of 2,316.654 hab. Santiago de Cali is the third largest city in Colombia. It is a reference point inside Colombia because of its industrial and commercial development, and has one of the fastest growing economies in the country because of its geographical location. Cali was founded on July 25th in 1536 by the Spanish conqueror Sebastián de Belalcázar.
The name Santiago de Cali comes in one part to honour Saint James the apostle (Santiago in Spanish) whose feast day is celebrated on July 25. There are several possibilities of the origin of the word "Cali". Some attribute it to a mispronunciation of the word "Lili", the name of a local tribe. Others believe that the word "Cali" has quechua origin, and it was brought by the Yanaconas Indians that came from Quito serving Sebastián de Belalcázar. This theory is reinforced by the fact that near Quito there is an indigenous town named Cali Cali.
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[edit] History
[edit] Pre-Columbian era and conquest
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the current region of Cali was inhabited by many indigenous tribes, mostly speakers of Cariban languages. In the region between the Cauca River and the Western Cordillera, the Gorrones were established between the present day Roldanillo and Cali. The biggest Morron's town was settled on the River Pescador near the present day towns of Zarzal and Bugalagrande. Although cannibals, the Morrones traded with the Quimbayas who inhabited the north of the Valle del Cauca.
On his way to Cali, Sebastián de Belalcázar first met the Timbas who ran away before the arrival of the Conqueror's men, leaving behind their towns and gold. After the Timbas, towards the north, the Spaniards entered the territory of the chief Jamundí and his tribe, the Jamundíes, between the rivers Pance and Jamundí. These Indians offered a strong resistance to the invaders, fighting with poisonous darts and arrows against the arquebuses and swords of the Spaniards. After taking Jamundíes' town the Spaniards looted the Indian's gold.
Before taking complete control over the region, the Spaniards had to defeat the chief Petecuy, whose tribe inhabited the area between the river Lilí and the Western Cordillera. Petecuy formed a big army with many tribes and fought the Spaniards on Holy Tuesday of 1536.
The Morrones gave up easily to the Spaniards and were divided in encomiendas. The already "mestizo" nature of the Spaniards made the process of mixing with the Amerindians easy. In fact, Belalcázar himself had several children born in the Americas from Indian mothers, as did his men.
Cali was important for Belalcazar because it was beyond the Inca empire. After the capture and execution of the Inca Atahualpa at Cajamarca, Francisco Pizarro had sent Belalcazar to take possession of Guayaquil and Quito on his behalf. Cali, being beyond the Quechua empire, was claimed by Belalcazar as his own territory. After his death, his descendants maintained possession of much of the land until the war of independence against Spain.
CaLi the best of the all world.
[edit] Founding and colonial period
The founder of Cali, Sebastián de Belalcázar, came to the American continent in the third voyage made by Columbus in 1498. In 1532, after serving in Darién and Nicaragua, he joined Francisco Pizarro in the conquest of Perú. In 1534 Belalcázar separated from Pizarro's expedition to found the city of Quito, and later in his search of El Dorado he entered the territory of what is now Colombia, founding the cities of Pasto and Popayán.
On July 25 1536, Belalcázar founded Santiago de Cali, first established a few miles north of the present location, near what are now the towns of Vijes and Riofrio. Under the orders of Belalcázar, captain Miguel Muñoz moved the city to its present location in 1537, where the chaplain Brother Santos de Añasco celebrated a mass in the place occupied by the Church La Merced today, and Belalcázar designated Pedro de Ayala as the first municipal authority.
During the Colonia (colonial period), Santiago de Cali was part of the gobernación of Popayán, which was part of Quito's Audiencia. Although initially Cali was the capital of Popayán's Gobernación, in 1540 Belalcázar moved this function to Popayán due to better weather.
Until the 18th century most of the territory of what is now Cali was occupied by haciendas (plantations), and the city was only a small town near the Cali River. In 1793, Cali had 6,548 inhabitants, 1,106 of whom were slaves. The haciendas were the property of the dominant noble class with many slaves dedicated mostly to stockbreeding and raising sugar cane crops. Many of these haciendas became neighborhoods of the present city like Cañaveralejo, Chipichape, Pasoancho, Arroyohondo, Cañasgordas, Limonar, and Meléndez.
Cali was strategically positioned for trade, centrally located in relation to the mining regions of Antioquia, Chocó, and Popayán. In the colonial period, the first trail for mules and horses between Cali and Buenaventura was completed.
[edit] Independence
On July 3 1810 Santiago de Cali proclaimed its independence from Popayán's Gobernación. This local uprising predates the national one in Bogotá by 17 days. Soon the local militia looked for allies forming the "Ciudades Confederadas del Valle del Cauca" with Anserma, Cartago, Toro, Buga and Caloto. Immediately after the rebellion the Governor of Popayán, Miguel Tacón y Rosique, organized an army to control the uprising. The people from Cali called for help to the "Junta Suprema" in Bogotá which sent a contingent under colonel Antonio Baraya to support the independence cause. On the 28 March 1811 in the battle of Bajo Palacé the Army of Baraya defeated the royalist army with the help of Atanacio Girardot.
In the following years there were many battles between royalists and local militia. After having been released from captivity by Napoleon, King Fernando VII of Spain sent a large army under the command of the Pacificador (peacemaker) Pablo Morillo who reclaimed power for Spain.
In 1819 after Simón Bolívar defeated the bulk of the Spaniard army in the Batalla de Boyacá, there were new uprisings in the Valle del Cauca and the Criollos took control permanently. In 1822 Bolívar arrived in Cali. The city was an important military outpost and the region contributed many men to the war of independence that liberated the nations in the south.
[edit] Modernism
Santiago de Cali was a very quiet community in the 20th century with no more than 20,000 inahabitants, was the capital of the Cauca state. The urban zones were: empedrado or altozano that were conformed by La Merced and San Antonio neighborhoods a high part of the city.
The city was Surrounded by mango plantations, pastures and communal lands that were given from the Spanish Crown to the low wealth class. From there the city was supplied in food resources. The economy was based mainly on livestock, sugar cane, beef, panela (sugar derivative), cheese and the gold mines from the pacific, there were also a small growing of the industrialization.
Around 1890 a private company, Company of public works of Cauca, built the "Plaza de mercado" (market plaza). This originates the develop of a comercial area and from this becomes the transformation of the Plaza Mayor or plaza de Caycedo. In 1921, the market was sold to the Cali municipality, very close to the 9th street, were located the princial station of the tranvia (tram) of Cali, this system linked the city with urban areas.
[edit] Recent History
On August 7th, 1956, at around 1 a.m., seven Colombian army trucks filled with 42 tons of dynamite exploded near the train station, destroying around eight city blocks and leaving a toll of thousands of dead and wounded.[1][2]
Cali hosted the Pan American Games in 1971, In the year 1971 Santiago de Cali hosted the Pan American Games, an event which is considered by many as the height of the city's golden age as a model of civic orderliness with this Cali was named the Sports Capital of Colombia. That same year, the government of Cali inaugurated what is now the second largest building in the Republic of Colombia. "La Torre de Cali", or The Cali Tower, has an hotel, offices and apartment complexes. It stands at 42 floors above the city, making it the 2nd largest building in Colombia, followed by the Colpatria Tower building, which stands in the capital of the republic, Bogotá.
During the 1980s the city saw an increase in violence and corruption due to the rise of the Cali Cartel, a drug mafia dedicated to the trafficking of cocaine. The heads of the Cali Cartel are currently in jail in the United States.
On April 9th, 2007, a 110-pound car bomb gutted the five-floor police headquarters before dawn, killing a taxi driver and injuring 34. Authorities blamed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which has been trying to overthrow Colombia's democratic government for nearly five decades. Later that week on April 12th, tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Cali to protest the bombing of the city's police barracks. Carrying giant banners reading "I reject terrorism" and "Death to fear," protesters were joined by Colombia's Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos.
[edit] Geography and climate
- Location
Cali is located on the Cauca Valley to the west of the Cauca River and to the east of the Western Mountain Range near the hills known as Farallones de Cali. The city rests approximately 1,000 meters (3,280 ft.) above sea level and its topography is fairly flat. Approximately 100 km west of Cali lies the port city of Buenaventura on the Colombian Pacific coast; to the northeast are the industrial town of Yumbo and the city of Palmira, where Cali's international airport, the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón (CLO), is located; the colonial city of Popayán is two hours south by car in the Cauca department.
- Geography
Several rivers that descend from the Western Mountain Range and empty into the Cauca River pass through the metropolitan area of Cali. In the western part of the city the Aguacatal River flows into the Cali River, which continues on to the Cauca River. In the south the rivers Cañaveralejo, Lilí, and Meléndez flow into the CVC south channel which also empties into the Cauca River. Farther south, the banks of the Pance River are a popular place for recreation and leisure.
- Climate
The local climate is semi-tropical as the Western Mountain Range screens the flow of humidity from the Pacific coast toward the interior of the country. In the afternoons Cali enjoys a fresh cross breeze that originates in the west and blows east. The Western Mountain Range rises from an average of 2,000 meters above sea level in the northern part of the city to approximately 4,000 meters to the south. Because of this variation in altitude, the weather in the northwest portion of the city is drier than in the southwest. The average annual precipitation varies between 900 mm to 1,800 mm depending on the metropolitan zone for a citywide average of approximately 1,000 mm. Cali's average temperature is 24°C (74°F) with an average low temperature of 19°C (66°F) and a high of 30°C (86°F).
Due to its proximity to the equator there are no major seasonal variations. However, locals refer to the dry season as the city's "summer" period and call the rainy season "winter." There are typically two rainy seasons: from April to May and from October to November. Regardless, rain can be expected to fall at any point during the year nourishing the city's permanent green and lush vegetation.
[edit] Tourism
[edit] Historical tourism
Santiago de Cali offers historical areas with cultural variety and other attractions. In downtown Cali, you can found many historical churches like "La Merced" and "La Ermita". Cali contains a well preserved Historical center, the most important zone is "La plaza de Caycedo", considered the center of the city, which has a large park and plaza surrounded by many historical and modern buildings like "El edificio Otero, La Catedral and El Palacio de Justicia"; This plaza is very close to other touristic places like The Saint Francis' church in spanis Iglesia de San Francisco, the municipal theater and La Merced church. In the western part of the city, historical monuments such as Sebastián de Belalcázar, which is a monument dedicated to the city founder, and religious monuments such as “Cristo Rey” and “Las tres cruces” are found.
[edit] Common tourism
There is a variety of nightclubs and restaurants. In the city you can found whole districts dedicated to tourism, for example Granada, one of the most traditional districts in Cali, full of gourmet restaurants, fashion stores and boutiques. Another place that you have to visit in Cali is "La sexta" is the 16th street all type of nightclubs are there, also restaurants and hotels; is usually called as "zona rosa" or pink zone, and is located in the north very close to Chpichape mall.
Main touristic centers:
- Parque del perro: Located in the San Fernando neighborhood, this is one of the most popular zones in the city, full of restaurants and bars.
- Sebastian de Belalcazar's monument: Is the most visited and popular monument in the city, here you can find regional foods like "Mazorca asada," a roasted corn.
- Cali River: One of the most peaceful zones in the city, the river is located in the west and is surrounded by restaurants, hotels and museums like "La Tertulia," an art museum.
- Cristo Rey: A religious monument located on a hill that offers the best view of the city.
- Shopping malls: There are six big shopping centers in Cali, and they are divided zones:
South: Unicentro, Palmetto plaza mall, Jardín Plaza, Cosmocentro
North: Chipichape, Centenario
[edit] Transport
[edit] Masivo Integrado de Occidente (MIO)
- Cali has started building a mass transit system, El MIO. El MIO is based on the transportation model consisting of the use of articulated buses. The layout is 243 kilometers long distributed in trunk, pre-trunk and complementary corridors. This system is greatly needed to organize transportation in the City. It should start operating in 2008.Image:Masivo Integrado de Occidente.JPGMasivo Integrado de Occidente (MIO)
List of the Trunk or principal corridors:
- Calle 5
- Carrera 15
- Calles 13 y 15
- Avenida de las Américas
- Avenida 3N
- Carrera 1
- Transversal 25
- Carrera 29 y Autopista Oriental
- Calle 70
For information about El MIO, in the ofial web site of metrocali; www.metrocali.gov.co (Spanish).
[edit] Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport
Cali is served by Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport, also known as Palmaseca International Airport, is located in the City of Palmira and serves Santiago de Cali and its suburbs. It is Colombia's second largest airport in terms of passengers transporting 2,171,551 in 2006 and is the 4th in cargo. Alfonso Bonilla Aragón is located in a long, narrow valley that runs from north to south, and is surrounded by mountains up to 14,000 feet (4,000 m) high.
[edit] Economy
Cali and the department (State) of Valle del Cauca form one of the principal commercial centers in Colombia. The city is a national and international point of exchange. Cali has a privileged geographical location due to its proximity to the Buenaventura port, Colombia’s main port on the pacific. The city’s economy is marked by its history which is reflected in the many sugar plantations of the area. legacy of the haciendas culture (estates culture).
The area industry is also remarkable to its regional economy; the north of the city is the most industrialized district on the region reckoning the city of Yumbo as a major industrial hub for many corporations, like Colombian’s beverage producer Postobón S.A. and Bavaria brewery.
Economy 2006-2007
Today the city's economy is rising faster. The construction industry is the perfect example of such a rising by making residential development booming all over the city. Moreover, commercial development is also on the rise; therefore there are many commercial-centers or "malls" and shopping centers going under Construction in the present time, and most of the established ones are expanding or remodeling their existing locations.
[edit] Politics
Cali is governed by a mayor who is elected for a three-year term. Under the mayor, there are several administrative departments and secretaries.
The city council's members are elected by citywide circumscription for four year terms. The first elected mayor was Carlos Holmes Trujillo of the Liberal Party.
[edit] 2007 Elections
The 2007 elections, which takes place on October 28, 2007, to replace Ramiro Reyes as mayor of Santiago de Cali, are very tight. Here is a list of the candidates who are running for "Alcalde del Santiago de Cali", or the mayor of Santiago de Cali:
Jorge Ivan Ospina Kiko Lloreda Bruno Diaz Diego Luis hurtado Jorge Portocarrero
Here are the current results as of October 28, 2007 5:13 pm (Cali, Colombia):
| Name of Candidate | Percentage of Vote | Political Party |
|---|---|---|
| Jorge Ivan Ospina | 45.10% | Independent |
| Fransisco (Kiko) Lloreda | 37.19% | Independent |
| Bruno Diaz | 2.16% | Polo Democratico |
As of 7:05 pm (Cali, Colombia) on October 28, 2007, are the following FINAL results:
| Candidate Name | Percentage of Votes | Political Party |
|---|---|---|
| Jorge Ivan Ospina | 49.05% | Conservative |
| Fransisco Lloreda | 39.02% | Liberal |
SUCCESION OF RAMIRO TAFUR REYES: JORGE IVAN OSPINA
[edit] Education
The most important higher education institution is the Universidad del Valle (Valle State University), or Univalle, which was founded in 1945; with more than 20,000 students distributed in its schools and departments, Univalle offers a very wide variety of academic programs (with the exception of law). It stands out because of developments in the areas of scientific and applied technological research.
The Universidad Santiago de Cali is another academic center with a considerable number of schools and departments. Other important universities, offering academic programs are Universidad Autónoma de occidente, Universidad Javeriana, Universidad ICESI, Universidad Libre, and Universidad San Buenaventura.
[edit] Cultural activities
[edit] Feria de Cali (Cali Fair)
"La Feria de Cali" is the main cultural event in the city. It is a fair that has been celebrated since 1957. The fair is celebrated from December 25th to December 30th. The fair is know also as the "Feria de la Caña" (sugar cane fair) and "Feria de la salsa" (Salsa fair). People enjoy many activities like an opening cabalgata (parade of horseback riders), tascas, salsa concerts, bullfights, parades, athletic activities and competitions and cultural exhibitions.
Cali is also known as the "Capital de la Salsa" given the city's infatuation with that type of Afro-Caribbean music. In early July there is the Summer Salsa Festival which lasts for one week. It usually includes concerts by the world's great remaining salsa bands as well as dance shows and "melomano" competitions in which salsa connoisseurs try to out do each other by digging deep into the archives of salsa music and related sounds to find and reveal long lost tunes.
Information about it in www.feriadecali.com (Spanish)
Rio Cali race
Cali has two main athletic events, a mid-year half marathon [4] and a December 10k race called Carrera del Río Cali.
[edit] Sports
[edit] Sport's capital city of Colombia
The city of Santiago de Cali is recognized as the sport capital city of Colombia, as it is the first Colombian city to have had hosted the Pan American Games in the 1970's and because this region has won the National Olympic Games more than any other region in Colombia. The city also counts with one of the most developed sport infrastructure in the country, many events has been take place in the city.
Cali has two soccer stadiums; Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero and Estadio del Deportivo Cali. Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero is currently home of both Deportivo Cali and America de Cali, since Estadio Deportivo Cali is still under construction. Deportivo Cali is the only soccer team owner of a stadium in Colombia since all of the other soccer stadiums are owned by the government, other important scenario in the city is "El pueblo Arena" is a covered arena center use for all type of events, the main use is basketball.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure in Cali has been permitted to been the host to mayor international sports competitions such as the 1968 Panamerican Games, numerous Games of the Pacific, the1999 World’s Roller Hockey Championships, women’s basketball and swimming events, Panamerican Speed-Track Cycling Championships, to name a few; and the last one the World’s Roller Speed Skating Championships.
- Olímpic stadium Pascual Guerrero
- El Pueblo Arena
- Polideportivo de El Vallado
- Unidad Deportiva Panamericana
- Velódromo Alcides Nieto Patiño
- Gimnasio Evangelista Mora
- Patinódromo Los Diputados
- Estadio del Deportivo Cali
Important information
- Santiago de Cali is home of two of the greatest soccer clubs in the country, these clubs are Deportivo Cali and America de Cali.
- Though there is no current basketball team that calls Santiago de Cali home, basketball is the second-most played sport in the city. Near the center of the city, on "La Carrera del Cholado", basketball is one of the most preferred sports. Soccer still surpasses basketball in sport popularity.
- Bullfighting that is only active during the Cali Fair which is held in December, it is anticipated by many citizens in Cali, and all around Colombia. The bullfighting ring is called La Plaza de Toros de Cañaveralejo, located the southwest of Cali.
- Many well-known Colombian soccer players have been born to the City of Cali. For example, Geovanny Hernandez, currently playing in Colo Colo, a team based in Santiago de Chile was born in Cali. Jairo Patiño was also born to the city of Cali. He currently plays for Banfield of Argentina. Hugo Rodallega was born in El Carmelo, Valle del Cauca. not to far from the city of Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca. The youngster has already played for Deportivo Cali, Monterrey, Atlas and Necaxa or Mexico. Mario Yepes, another famous Colombian footballer was also born in Cali. He has played in teams such as Deportivo Cali, and Tulua, both in Valle del Cauca. He currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain, a major football club in France. Faryd Aly Mondragon, a famous goalkeeper for both the national team of Colombia, and FC Koln for Germany. He has had a rich history in football, playing for teams such as Galatasary in Turkey. To top it all off, Oscar Cordoba, a goalkeeper who has certainly made Colombian history, with his impeccable saves. He's saved many penalties and shots. More important, he has made assists as well. He has gone through many Turkish teams. Oscar Cordoba currently plays for Deportivo Cali.
[edit] Gallery
IMG 4878.jpg
Panoramic view |
IMG 4847.jpg
Downtown Cali |
IMG 4870.jpg
Residential area |
IMG 4784.jpg
Caycedo Square |
Aleko la merced.jpg
La Merced |
DSC00457.JPG
Departamental Library |
[edit] Sister Cities
- Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Amsterdam, Holland
- Image:Flag of the United States.svg Atlanta, Georgia
- Image:Flag of Japan.svg Fukuoka, Japan
- Image:Flag of Greece.svg Athens, Greece
- Image:Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm, Sweden
- Image:Flag of Canada.svg Montreal, Canada
- Image:Flag of Monaco.svg Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Prague, Czech Republic
- Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svgImage:Flag of England.svg Brighton, England
[edit] External links
Santiago de Cali travel guide from Wikitravel
(The following links are all in Spanish language)
- Gobernación del Valle del Cauca
- Universidad del Valle
- Universidad Santiago de Cali
- Universidad San Buenaventura
- Universidad Autónoma de Occidente
- Universidad ICESI
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana - Cali
- El País newspaper
- Occidente free newspaper
- (PDF) - 2005 Census data
- [5]
- Mundo Andino - Cali
[edit] References
Municipalities in the Valle del Cauca Department | |
|---|---|
| Alcalá • Andalucía • Ansermanuevo • Argelia • Bolívar • Buenaventura • Buga • Bugalagrande • Caicedonia • Cali • Calima • Candelaria • Cartago • Dagua • El Aguila • El Cairo • El Cerrito • El Dovio • Florida • Ginebra • Guacari • Jamundí • La Cumbre • La Unión • La Victoria • Obando • Palmira • Pradera • Restrepo • Riofrio • Roldanillo • San Pedro • Sevilla • Toro • Trujillo • Tuluá • Ulloa • Versalles • Vijes • Yotoco • Yumbo • Zarzal | |
Pan American Games host cities |
|---|
1951: Buenos Aires • 1955: Mexico City • 1959: Chicago • 1963: São Paulo • 1967: Winnipeg • 1971: Cali • 1975: Mexico City • 1979: San Juan • 1983: Caracas • 1987: Indianapolis • 1991: Havana • 1995: Mar del Plata • 1999: Winnipeg • 2003: Santo Domingo • 2007: Rio de Janeiro • 2011: Guadalajara |
bg:Кали (град) de:Cali es:Santiago de Cali eo:Cali fr:Cali id:Cali it:Cali lv:Kali (pilsēta) lt:Kalis (Kolumbija) hu:Cali nl:Cali ja:カリ (都市) pl:Cali pt:Cáli ro:Santiago de Cali qu:Cali ru:Кали (город) sr:Кали fi:Cali sv:Cali vi:Cali, Columbia vo:Santiago de Cali zh:卡利
