Sutamarchán

Sutamarchán
Municipality and town
Central square and church of Sutamarchán
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Sutamarchán in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Boyacá Department
Province	Ricaurte Province
Founded	14 December 1556
Founded by	Antonio de Santana
Government
• Mayor	Wilmer Castellanos Hernández (2016-2019)
Area
• Municipality and town	102 km2 (39 sq mi)
• Urban	8 km2 (3 sq mi)
Elevation	1,800 m (5,900 ft)
Population (2015)
• Municipality and town	5,916
• Density	58/km2 (150/sq mi)
• Urban	1,352
Time zone	Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5)
Website	Official website

Sutamarchán is a town and municipality in the Ricaurte Province, part of the department of Boyacá of Colombia. Sutamarchán is situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at 44 kilometres (27 mi) from the department capital Tunja. It borders Santa Sofía in the north, Sáchica and Villa de Leyva in the east, Saboyá in the west and Ráquira and Tinjacá in the south.^[1]

Etymology

The name Sutamarchán is derived from the Chibcha sovereign Suta and Spanish marchán: "Merchant of the sovereign Suta". Marchán refers to Pedro Merchan de Velasco who was an 18th century encomendero of Suta.^[1][2]

History

Sutamarchán in the times before the Spanish conquest was inhabited by the Muisca, organized in their loose Muisca Confederation. Sutamarchán was ruled by the zaque of Hunza.

Modern Sutamarchán was founded on December 14, 1556 by Antonio de Santana.^[1]

Economy

Main economical activities of Sutamarchán are agriculture, livestock farming and tourism. Among the agricultural products potatoes, onions, tomatoes, barley, maize, grapes and the Colombian fruit curuba are cultivated. The town is famous for its longaniza sausages. Tourism is mainly religious; tourists visit the Santo Ecce Homo Convent.^[1]

Since June 15, 2004 a Tomatina festival, like the famous original in Buñol, Spain, is celebrated in Sutamarchán.

Born in Sutamarchán

• Pedro González (humorist)

Gallery

• 
  Church and central square
• 
  Tomatina festival Sutamarchán
• 
  Tomatina festival
• 
  Touristic map of Sutamarchán and surroundings

• 
  Santo Ecce Homo Convent
• 
  Santo Ecce Homo Convent
• 
  Santo Ecce Homo Convent interior
• 
  Floor with fossils in the Convent

Panoramas

Cemetery of the Santo Ecce Homo Convent, Sutamarchán

Snake fossil in the Santo Ecce Homo Convent, Sutamarchán

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sutamarchán.

Provinces and Municipalities in Boyacá Department
Central Boyacá Province	Cómbita Cucaita Chíquiza Chivatá Motavita Oicatá Siachoque Samacá Sora Soracá Sotaquirá Toca Tunja Tuta Ventaquemada
Northern Boyacá Province	Boavita Covarachía La Uvita San Mateo Sativanorte Sativasur Soatá Susacón Tipacoque
Western Boyacá Province	Briceño Buenavista Caldas Chiquinquirá Coper La Victoria Maripí Muzo Otanche Pauna Quípama Saboyá San Miguel de Sema San Pablo de Borbur Tununguá
Eastern Boyacá Province	Almeida Chivor Guateque Guayatá La Capilla Somondoco Sutatenza Tenza
Gutiérrez Province	Chiscas El Cocuy El Espino Guacamayas Güicán Panqueba
La Libertad Province	Labranzagrande Pajarito Paya Pisba
Lengupá Province	Berbeo Campohermoso Miraflores Páez San Eduardo Zetaquirá
Márquez Province	Boyacá Ciénaga Jenesano Nuevo Colón Ramiriquí Rondón Tibaná Turmequé Úmbita Viracachá
Neira Province	Chinavita Garagoa Macanal Pachavita San Luis de Gaceno Santa María
Ricaurte Province	Arcabuco Chitaraque Gachantivá Moniquirá Ráquira Sáchica San José de Pare Santa Sofía Santana Sutamarchán Tinjacá Togüí Villa de Leyva
Sugamuxi Province	Aquitania Cuítiva Firavitoba Gámeza Iza Mongua Monguí Nobsa Pesca Sogamoso Tibasosa Tópaga Tota
Tundama Province	Belén Busbanzá Cerinza Corrales Duitama Floresta Paipa Santa Rosa de Viterbo Tutazá
Valderrama Province	Betéitiva Chita Jericó Paz de Río Socotá Socha Tasco
Boyacá Frontier District	Cubará
Boyacá Special Handling Zone	Puerto Boyacá
See also: List of municipalities in Boyacá

Coordinates: 5°36′N 73°38′W / 5.600°N 73.633°W / 5.600; -73.633