Montería is a municipality and city located in northern Colombia and is the capital of the Department of Córdoba. The city is located away from the Caribbean sea, by the Sinú River. The city and region are known for their distinct cultural heritages, which include a blend of mainly colonial Spanish descendants and indigenous Zenú Indians, and more recently, Arab immigrants. The city is home to the Sombrero Vueltiao, a national symbol; and is the home of Porro folklore music. The city has an inland seaport connected to the Caribbean Sea by the Sinú River.
History
The area was first settled by Zenú Indians, who lived in the banks of the Sinú River, San Jorge River and Nechí River, where the Department of Córdoba is located today. In 2003, dentist and historian Jaime Castro released Historia Extensa de Montería, a book on the history of the city. According to Castro's book, Montería was founded on May 1, 1777 by Spanish officer Antonio de la Torre y Miranda, being governor of the Province of Cartagena officer Juan de Torrezar Díaz Pimienta. The city, which had been named Montería by its inhabitants and located on the east side of the Sinú river, was then renamed "San Jerónimo de Buenavista" and moved to the west side of the Sinú. San Jerónimo de Buenavista was the name chosen by Antonio de la Torre y Miranda, in order to honor Saint Jeronimo, but people referred to it as Montería. In 1803, the city was burned by a group of natives, so the residents decided to move back to the Sinú's east bank, where it remains today. In recent years, Monteria has seen a growth in population on the west side. In 1923, it became a municipality of Bolívar Department, and in 1952, it was designated as capital of the new Department of Córdoba. Montería was located within the boundaries of the Colombian Department of Bolívar until 1952 when it separated from Bolívar and became the capital of the new Department of Córdoba. With a population of approximately 400,000, the city is considered to be one of the ten most important cities in Colombia and is locally known as La Perla del Sinú.
Geography and climate
The city, which lies in the Sinú valley, is divided by the Sinu river and surrounded and sparsely populated by tropical flora and fauna. The town's weather is mainly warm and moderately humid, with average yearly temperatures of 27 °C. The area is subject to flooding.
The town's economy is based mainly on cattle farming, and a very prosperous commercial district consisting of modern malls, shops, and restaurant chains. It is considered to be the Cattle Farming Capital of Colombia and celebrates this title with a yearly festival. Plus, the city is one of the most important destination with venues of the country by having Great Stadiums and Convention centers, and have received important celebrities such as Maelo Ruiz, Jorge Celedón, Shakira, Years and Years, Juanes, Carlos Vives, among others.
As is common in most Colombian municipalities, public transportation is tightly integrated into the city. A system of taxis and several lines of large and small buses serve the community on surface streets. The streets of Monteria are also full of motorcycle taxis or "rapimotos" that provide economical transportation. A passenger-only ferry system known as "Planchones", consists of roofed wooden rafts. It traverses the Sinu river along a system of manual cable tows. It was made as a way to cross the river before a proper bridge could be built and has served as an alternative to cross the river ever since. It is one of the most remarkable features of the city.
Water
The city is served by a fishing port, but the waters of the Sinu river do not run deep enough and are not wide enough to serve as a commercial channel. High quality sand is brought up from the bottom of the river in buckets placed by divers, for use in the making of cinder blocks for local and regional construction projects.
Air travel
Monteria is home to an international airport, Los Garzones Airport, which provides service to capital cities of neighboring provinces, through the country's main air carrier Avianca, easyfly and LATAM airlines. The main cities served from the airport are Panama City and Bogotá
Demographics
The region is populated by a diverse mix of people, including the indigenous people of the region, the descendants of the Sinu Indians, a tribe of natives with their own language that once produced ornate pottery and goldworks.
Tourism and sport
Sites of interest
Sites of interest in Monteria include:
The city's 1st Avenue runs along the Sinú river.
Simon Bolivar Park separates the river from 1st Avenue and is home to wild monkeys and sloths.
Coveñas Beach is a beach which has a lot of tourist attractions.
The Colonial-era Cathedral of Saint Jeronimo is surrounded by a park.
