Sucre
Encyclopedia
Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca (population 247,300 in 2006) is the constitutional capital of Bolivia
and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca
. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m (9,000 ft). This relatively high altitude gives the city a cool temperate climate year-round.
established the Audiencia de Charcas in La Plata with authority over an area which covers what is now Paraguay
, southeastern Peru
, Northern Chile
and Argentina
, and much of Bolivia
. The Audiencia de Charcas was a subdivision of the Viceroyalty of Peru
. In 1601, the Recoleta Monastery was founded by the Franciscans and in 1609, an archbishopric was founded in the city. In 1624, St Francis Xavier University of Chuquisaca was founded.
Very much a Spanish city during the colonial era, the narrow streets of the city centre are organised in a grid, reflecting the Andalusian culture that is embodied in the architecture of the city's great houses and numerous convents and churches. Sucre remains the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Bolivia, and a common sight is members of religious orders dressed in traditional costume. For much of its colonial history, Sucre's temperate climate was preferred by the Spanish royalty and wealthy families involved in silver trade coming from Potosí
. Testament to this is the Glorieta Castle. Sucre's University
(Universidad Mayor Real & Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca
) is one of the oldest universities in the new world.
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Until the 19th century, La Plata was the judicial, religious and cultural centre of the region. In 1839, after the city became the capital of Bolivia, it was renamed in honour of the revolutionary leader Antonio José de Sucre
. Too remote after the economic decline of Potosí
and its silver industry, it saw the Bolivian seat of government move to La Paz
in 1898. Many argue Sucre was the epicentre that initiated the independence campaign against Spain in all of Latin America. The first "Grito Libertario" (Shout for Freedom) in any Western Hemisphere Spanish colony of took place in Sucre in 1809. Ironically, Bolivia was the last territory to gain its independence in 1825. In 1991, Sucre became a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
.
The city attracts thousands of tourists every year due to its well-preserved downtown with buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Nestled at the foot of the twin hills of Churuquella and Sika Sika, Sucre is the gateway to numerous small villages that date from the colonial era, the most well-known of which is Tarabuco
, home of the colorful "Pujllay" festival held each March. Most of these villagers are members of one of the indigenous ethnicities. Many dress in clothing distinctive to their respective villages.
of Chuquisaca department
and the constitutional capital of Bolivia
, where the Supreme Court is located. The government of the City of Sucre is divided into the executive
and legislative
branches. The Mayor of Sucre is the head of the city government, elected for a term of five years by general election. The legislative branch consists of The Municipal Council, which elects a President, Vice President and Secretary from a group of eleven members.
The current mayor of Sucre is Verónica Berríos (of the MAS party), who took office on 21 June 2010, and was briefly replaced by Santos Romero in January 2011.
The current Municipal Council was elected in the regional election
of 4 April 2010. The election was by proportional representation with the Pact of Social Integration and the Movement Towards Socialism gaining the largest and second largest shares of the vote.
The council elected in April 2010 and seated in late December 2010 is as follows:
Sucre is served by Juana Azurduy de Padilla International Airport
, situated 5 km to the Northwest and connected by Avenida Juana Azurduy de Padilla
.
who wrote the Bolivian Constitution.
The "Salón de la Independencia" houses the Bolivian Declaration of Independence.
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca
Chuquisaca Department
Chuquisaca is a department of Bolivia located in the center south. It borders on the departments of Cochabamba, Tarija, Potosí, and Santa Cruz. The departmental capital is Sucre, which is also the constitutional capital of Bolivia.-Geography:...
. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m (9,000 ft). This relatively high altitude gives the city a cool temperate climate year-round.
History
On November 30, 1538, Sucre was founded under the name Ciudad de la Plata de la Nueva Toledo by Pedro Anzures, Marqués de Campo Redondo. In 1538, the Spanish King Philip IIPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
established the Audiencia de Charcas in La Plata with authority over an area which covers what is now Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, southeastern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Northern Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and much of Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. The Audiencia de Charcas was a subdivision of the Viceroyalty of Peru
Viceroyalty of Peru
Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima...
. In 1601, the Recoleta Monastery was founded by the Franciscans and in 1609, an archbishopric was founded in the city. In 1624, St Francis Xavier University of Chuquisaca was founded.
Very much a Spanish city during the colonial era, the narrow streets of the city centre are organised in a grid, reflecting the Andalusian culture that is embodied in the architecture of the city's great houses and numerous convents and churches. Sucre remains the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Bolivia, and a common sight is members of religious orders dressed in traditional costume. For much of its colonial history, Sucre's temperate climate was preferred by the Spanish royalty and wealthy families involved in silver trade coming from Potosí
Potosí
Potosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal . and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia...
. Testament to this is the Glorieta Castle. Sucre's University
(Universidad Mayor Real & Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca
University of Saint Francis Xavier
The Royal and Pontificial Major University of Saint Francis Xavier of Chuquisaca is a public university in Sucre, Bolivia. It is one of the oldest universities of the new world, ranking as the second oldest university in the Americas behind Peru's National University of San Marcos...
) is one of the oldest universities in the new world.
Antonio José de Sucre
Antonio José de Sucre y Alcalá , known as the "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho" , was a Venezuelan independence leader. Sucre was one of Simón Bolívar's closest friends, generals and statesmen.-Ancestry:...
. Too remote after the economic decline of Potosí
Potosí
Potosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal . and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia...
and its silver industry, it saw the Bolivian seat of government move to La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
in 1898. Many argue Sucre was the epicentre that initiated the independence campaign against Spain in all of Latin America. The first "Grito Libertario" (Shout for Freedom) in any Western Hemisphere Spanish colony of took place in Sucre in 1809. Ironically, Bolivia was the last territory to gain its independence in 1825. In 1991, Sucre became a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
The city attracts thousands of tourists every year due to its well-preserved downtown with buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Nestled at the foot of the twin hills of Churuquella and Sika Sika, Sucre is the gateway to numerous small villages that date from the colonial era, the most well-known of which is Tarabuco
Tarabuco
Tarabuco is a Bolivian town in the department of Chuquisaca, capital of the Yamparáez Province and its first section, Tarabuco Municipality. It is best known as the home of the Yampara culture. Its people host the Pujllay festival in March each year...
, home of the colorful "Pujllay" festival held each March. Most of these villagers are members of one of the indigenous ethnicities. Many dress in clothing distinctive to their respective villages.
Government
Sucre is the capitalCapital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
of Chuquisaca department
Chuquisaca Department
Chuquisaca is a department of Bolivia located in the center south. It borders on the departments of Cochabamba, Tarija, Potosí, and Santa Cruz. The departmental capital is Sucre, which is also the constitutional capital of Bolivia.-Geography:...
and the constitutional capital of Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, where the Supreme Court is located. The government of the City of Sucre is divided into the executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
and legislative
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
branches. The Mayor of Sucre is the head of the city government, elected for a term of five years by general election. The legislative branch consists of The Municipal Council, which elects a President, Vice President and Secretary from a group of eleven members.
The current mayor of Sucre is Verónica Berríos (of the MAS party), who took office on 21 June 2010, and was briefly replaced by Santos Romero in January 2011.
| Date Began | Date Ended | Governor | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2008 | Aydeé Nava | PAÍS | ||
| Nov 2008 | 30 May 2010 | Hugo Loayza | MBL | Assumed office after Nava was indicted on corruption charges |
| 30 May 2010 | 18 June 2010 | Jaime Barrón Poveda | PAÍS | Elected in regional election Bolivian regional election, 2010 The 2010 Bolivian regional elections were held on 4 April 2010. Departmental and municipal authorities were elected by an electorate of approximately 5 million people... on 4 April |
| 22 June 2010 | 10 January 2011 | Verónica Berríos | MAS | Designated as interim Mayor by Sucre's Council in Resolution 335/10 after Barrón was indicted on charges of organizing the violence of 24 May 2008 May 24, 2008 violence in Sucre The May 24, 2008 violence in Sucre, Bolivia, consisted of clashes, hostage-taking, assaults, and public humiliation against primarily indigenous rural leaders and their supporters... |
| 10 January 2011 | 27 January 2011 | Santos Romero | MAS | Designated as interim Mayor by Sucre's Council in Resolution 03/11 |
| 27 July 2011 | Verónica Berríos | MAS | Restored to office when the Guarantees Tribunal of Chuquisaca's Superior Court of Justice annulled Resolution 03/11 |
The current Municipal Council was elected in the regional election
Bolivian regional election, 2010
The 2010 Bolivian regional elections were held on 4 April 2010. Departmental and municipal authorities were elected by an electorate of approximately 5 million people...
of 4 April 2010. The election was by proportional representation with the Pact of Social Integration and the Movement Towards Socialism gaining the largest and second largest shares of the vote.
The council elected in April 2010 and seated in late December 2010 is as follows:
| Office | Council Member | Biography | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | Domingo Martínez Cáceres | Agricultural engineer, former Sub-Mayor, previous Council President, docent in the Agronomy Faculty at UMRPSFXCH. | Sucre First | |
| Vice President | Germán Gutiérrez Gantier | Lawyer, former Mayor of Sucre, former national Deputy, former member of the Judicial Council, docent | Pact of Social Integration Pact of Social Integration The Pact of Social Integration is a local political party in Sucre and several other municipalities of Chuquisaca department, Bolivia. Party member Aydeé Nava is a former mayor of the city and Jaime Barrón Poveda is its mayor-elect.... |
|
| Secretary | Arminda Corina Herrera Gonzales | Teacher, Constituent Assembly member for Chuquisaca and former MAS member | New Citizen Alternative | |
| Nelson Guzmán Fernández | Communicator, law student, leader of Federación Universitaria Local and the University Club. | Pact of Social Integration Pact of Social Integration The Pact of Social Integration is a local political party in Sucre and several other municipalities of Chuquisaca department, Bolivia. Party member Aydeé Nava is a former mayor of the city and Jaime Barrón Poveda is its mayor-elect.... |
||
| Susy Barrios Quiroz | Psychologist, former Sub-Mayor of Districts 2 and 5, President of Feminine Civic Committee of Chuquisaca | Pact of Social Integration Pact of Social Integration The Pact of Social Integration is a local political party in Sucre and several other municipalities of Chuquisaca department, Bolivia. Party member Aydeé Nava is a former mayor of the city and Jaime Barrón Poveda is its mayor-elect.... |
||
| Norma Rojas Salazar | Executive Secretary of Bolivian Red Cross and neighborhood leader | Pact of Social Integration Pact of Social Integration The Pact of Social Integration is a local political party in Sucre and several other municipalities of Chuquisaca department, Bolivia. Party member Aydeé Nava is a former mayor of the city and Jaime Barrón Poveda is its mayor-elect.... |
||
| Juán Nacer Villagómez Ledezma | Public health doctor, former docent, former functionary of the Health Ministry and former chief of the Planning Unit of the Departmental Health Service | MAS-IPSP Movement for Socialism (Bolivia) The Movement for Socialism-Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples , alternately referred to as "Movement Toward Socialism" or "Movement to Socialism", is a left-wing, socialist, Bolivian political organization led by Evo Morales, founded in 1995... |
||
| Verónica Berríos chosen as interim Mayor 19 June 2010 Vladimir Paca Lezano alternate serving since June 2010 |
Berrios: Laboratory worker, lawyer, sociology student |
MAS-IPSP Movement for Socialism (Bolivia) The Movement for Socialism-Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples , alternately referred to as "Movement Toward Socialism" or "Movement to Socialism", is a left-wing, socialist, Bolivian political organization led by Evo Morales, founded in 1995... |
||
| José Santos Romero | Campesino leader, former leader of Chaunaca Subcentral of the campesion federation, and member of the Association of Milk Producers of Potolo | MAS-IPSP Movement for Socialism (Bolivia) The Movement for Socialism-Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples , alternately referred to as "Movement Toward Socialism" or "Movement to Socialism", is a left-wing, socialist, Bolivian political organization led by Evo Morales, founded in 1995... |
||
| Marlene Rosales Valverde | Businesswoman and leader of Fourth Federations of Shopkeepers of Sucre. | MAS-IPSP Movement for Socialism (Bolivia) The Movement for Socialism-Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples , alternately referred to as "Movement Toward Socialism" or "Movement to Socialism", is a left-wing, socialist, Bolivian political organization led by Evo Morales, founded in 1995... |
||
| Lourdes Millares | Lawyer, former national Deputy for NFR and former head of PODEMOS parliamentary delegation | Pact of Social Integration Pact of Social Integration The Pact of Social Integration is a local political party in Sucre and several other municipalities of Chuquisaca department, Bolivia. Party member Aydeé Nava is a former mayor of the city and Jaime Barrón Poveda is its mayor-elect.... (ran with Sucre First) |
||
| Sources: | ||||
Geography and territorial organization
Sucre is divided into eight, numbered districts: the first five of these are urban districts, while Districts 6, 7, and 8 are rural districts. Each is administered by a Sub-Mayor , appointed by the Mayor of Sucre. The rural districts include numerous rural communities outside the urban area.Sucre is served by Juana Azurduy de Padilla International Airport
Juana Azurduy de Padilla International Airport
Juana Azurduy de Padilla International Airport is an airport that serves Sucre, Bolivia, the nation's constitutional capital city.The only runway at Juana Azurduy de Padilla is 9400 feet in length, and is at an altitude of . Because of this high altitude, many people who arrive at Sucre via rapid...
, situated 5 km to the Northwest and connected by Avenida Juana Azurduy de Padilla
Juana Azurduy de Padilla
Doña Juana Azurduy de Padilla was born on July 12, 1780 or 1781 in the town of Chuquisaca, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata . She was Mestizo by ethnicity meaning she was half European and half indigenous. “Her mother married into a family of property” meaning she married into a more wealth family...
.
The City of Four Names
Each of the well known names represent a specific era of the city's history.- Charcas was the indigenous name for the place upon which the Spaniards built the colonial city.
- La Plata was the name given to the emerging Hispanic city of privilege and honor.
- The name Chuquisaca was bestowed upon the city during the independence era.
- Sucre honors the great marshal of the Battle of AyacuchoBattle of AyacuchoThe Battle of Ayacucho was a decisive military encounter during the Peruvian War of Independence. It was the battle that sealed the independence of Peru, as well as the victory that ensured independence for the rest of South America...
(December 9, 1824), Don Antonio José de SucreAntonio José de SucreAntonio José de Sucre y Alcalá , known as the "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho" , was a Venezuelan independence leader. Sucre was one of Simón Bolívar's closest friends, generals and statesmen.-Ancestry:...
.
The House of Freedom (La Casa de la Libertad)
Built in 1621, it is perhaps the most important building of the nation. The republic was founded in this building by Simón BolívarSimón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
who wrote the Bolivian Constitution.
The "Salón de la Independencia" houses the Bolivian Declaration of Independence.
National Library (La Biblioteca Nacional)
Built on the same year of the foundation of the Republic, it is the first and the most important historical, bibliographical and documentation center of the country. The National Library has documents that date from 15th century.Metropolitan Cathedral (La Catedral Metropolitana)
Built between 1559 to 1712, the cathedral has the "Museo Catedraliceo" which is the first and most important religious museum of the country. The "Pinacoteca" has a vast collection of paintings by Colonial and Republican masters and also by Europeans such as Bitti, Fourchaudt and Van Dyck. The Cathedral contains a vast amount of jewelry made of gold, silver and gemstones.Archbishop's Palace (El Palacio Arzobispal)
Built in 1609, was an important religious and historic institution during colonial times.Churches and Convents
- San Felipe Nery
- San Francisco
- La Recoleta
- Santa Teresa
- Santa Clara
Churches
- Santo Domingo
- San Lazaro
- San Sebastian
- Iglesia de la Merced
- San Agustín
- Santa Mónica
- Santa Barbara
- San Miguel
See also
- Antonio José de SucreAntonio José de SucreAntonio José de Sucre y Alcalá , known as the "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho" , was a Venezuelan independence leader. Sucre was one of Simón Bolívar's closest friends, generals and statesmen.-Ancestry:...
- Charca people
- La PazLa PazNuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...