Montería

Montería is a municipality and city located in Northern Colombia and is the capital of the Department of Córdoba. The city is located 50 km (31 mi) away from the Caribbean sea, by the Sinú River. The city and region are famous for their distinct cultural heritages, which include a blend of indigenous Zenú Indians, African descendants, colonial Spanish descendants, 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 (Finzenú), San Jorge River (Panzenú) and Nechí River (Zenúfana), where the Department of Córdoba is located today. In 2003, dentist and historian Jaime Castro releasedHistoria 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 (The Pearl of the River Sinú).

Landmarks

Ronda del Sinú

Ronda del Sinu is a linear park located in Monteria, Cordoba, to the east bank of the Sinu River. It was built in 2005 in the administration of Mayor Fidel Leon Ojeda. It is about 2 kilometers long between the street 21 under the metal bridge to the street 38. In its facilities you can find many wild animals such as iguanas , sloths and several species of monkeys and flora own in the tropical dry forest region. Since 2010 the city has a second round of Sinu , known as the Ronda del Norte in the neighborhood El Recreo in the north of the city, which has a viewpoint in addition to the same attractions of the original Round.

Alamedas shopping centre

Alamedas Del Sinu, is a shopping mall located in the north of Monteria, consists of 163 stores, 500 parking spaces, the Alamedas Del Sinu Hotel consists of 90 rooms, 2 anchor stores and 42.000m². It is the largest mall in the city. It was built in 1998 by Pedro Ojeda Visbal & cia, since undergone it has had a series of renovations and expansions. It has 5 Cinema rooms, 1 large food court with 26 local brands such as Studio F, Hugo Boss, among others. It is considered the meeting point of the monterianos and monterianas, for his great attention and different varieties of entertainment.

Airport Los Garzones

The Garzones Airport (IATA: MTR, ICAO: SKMR) is located 10 km from the center of the city of Monteria, Cordoba (Colombia). In it the airlines provides commercial services with ADA airline, Avianca, EasyFly, LAN Colombia and Viva Colombia. In 2008 it was awarded through a competitive bidding process to "AirPlan" consortium of the following companies: S.A.; Malibu Fernando Mazuera y Cia., SA Information and Technology, Urban Portales SA, Colombian Society of Commercial Investment (Socinsa), Supertiendas and Droguerías Olympic Noarco S.A. and Integrated Services Networks and Communications, together with the Chinese company CAH Colombia, among the works proposed are the construction of a new terminal, refurbishment of runways and taxiways, new safety systems, among others. Since 2010 the airport has urban bus service that connects the terminal with the terminal of intermunicipal buses from the city of Monteria.