Tunja

The city was founded in 1539 about an hour from the site where the Battle of Boyaca would take place some 280 years later and where Colombia effectively won independence from the Spanish colonizers.

Tunja has lies more or less at the centre of the more populated part of Boyaca and so serves as an excellent jumping off point for trips to most of the towns of interest in the area.

The Plaza Bolivar is the city's central square and is a bit reminiscent of the Bogota´s main square of the same name.

Plaza Bolivar, Tunja

The blocks surrounding Plaza Bolivar form the historic centre of the city and are pleasant to stroll around.

Just east of Plaza Bolivar on Calle 20 (also known as Calle del Escribano) is the Casa de Don Juan de Vargas, an attractive colonial house which includes several displays of colonial artworks.

Located witin a couple of blocks of Plaza Bolivar are Iglesia de Santo Domingo and Iglesia y Convento de Santa Clara La Real both well worth a visit.

Hotels

Casa Real Calle 19 No. 7-65, Tel. 3108521636

A comfortable hotel a block east of Plaza Bolivar.

Hotel Oseta Calle 19 No. 7-64, Tel. (8) 7422886

Located opposite the Casa Real hotel this is another good bet for a cheap hotel.

Food

There are numerous restaurants scattered around the area of the plaza. Among the best is Restaurante Barbacoa located on the small plazoleta at the corner of Calle 20 and Carrera 8.

Sport

Tunja has two football teams Boyaca Chico and Patriotas. The larger of the two clubs Boyaca Chico actually started their life in Bogota as Deportivo Bogota Chico FC. The club was named the neighbourhood Chico in the north of the capital where club founder and former professional footballer Eduardo Pimentel was born.

They entered Colombian football at the lowest tier, Division C in 2002. After finishing their first season as champions they were promoted to Division B where they again claimed promotion at the first time of asking, this time to the top flight of Colombian football.

Boyaca Chico played one more season in the capital before moving to Tunja in 2004.

After a shaky first year scarcely avoiding relegation back to Division B, Boyaca Chico quickly established themselves as a solid Division A side, so much so that by the end of the 2007 season they had qualified for the initial phase of the Copa Libertadores (South America's Champions League) after finishing 3rd in the league.

Boyaca Chico faced Chilean side Audax Italiano of Chile in the qualification game to enter the group stages. Despite winning the first leg 4-3 at "home" (the game was actually played in Bogota since Chico's stadium did not comply with CONMEBOL's requirements) they lost the return leg 1-0 in Chile and were eliminated on the away goals rule.

However, Boyaca Chico's best season yet was to come in 2008 when the were crowned Colombian Champions after defeating America de Cali on penalties 4-2 after both legs of the final had ended in 1-1 draws.

As champions Boyaca Chico therefore again qualified for the Copa Libertadores in 2009. Despite winning three of their group games Boyaca Chico narrowly missed out on qualifying for the knockout stages after finishing third.

Boyaca Chico are known as the "Ajedrezado Team" due to their chess board style strip.

Chico play their home matches at the Estadio de La Independencia in the north of the city which has a capacity of around 21,000.

Boyaca Chico play their home matches at Estadio de La Independencia

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