Tunja

Capital of the Andean department of Boyacá, east-central Colombia, 2,800 m/9,200 ft above sea level; population (1992) 112,000. It is the centre of an agricultural and mining community, and linked to Bogotá by railway. One of the oldest cities in Colombia, Tunja was formerly the seat of the Chibcha Indian kings. The Spanish refounded a city here in 1539 on the site of Hunza, the ancient Muisca Indian seat. In 1818 Simón Bolívar defeated Spanish Royalists near Tunja. Industries include agriculture and mining. Many colonial buildings remain or have been restored, including the church of Santo Domingo (begun in 1594), and the Santa Clara Chapel (1580), now a museum.