Sucre


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.


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 II 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.


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 epicenter 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 thanks to its well-conserved 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.
Government



Sucre is the capital of Chuquisaca department and the constitutional capital of Bolivia, whose Supreme Court is located in the city. The government of the City of Sucre is divided into executive and legislative branches. The Mayor of Sucre is the head of the city government, elected by general election for a term of five years. The Municipal Council, with eleven members who elect a President, Vice President and Secretary from among themselves, is the legislative branch.


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 Barron PAÍS Elected in regional
Poveda election on 4 April
21 June 2010 10 January  Veronica MAS Design as interim
2010 Berrios Mayor by Sucre's
Council in Resoultion
335/10 after Barron
was indicted on
charges of organizing
the violence of 24 May 2008
10 January 2010 10 January 2011 Santos Romero MAS Designated as interim
Mayor by Sucre's council
in Resolution 03/11
27 January 2011 Veronica  MAS Restored to office when the
Berrios Guarantees Tribunal of
Chuquisaca's Superior Court
of Justice annulied 
Resolution 03/11

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 May 2010 is as follows:
 
Office Council Member Biography Party
President Domingo Martinez Agricultural engineer,   Sucre First
Cáceres  former Sub-Mayor,
previous Council 
 President, docent in
the Agronomy Faculty 
at UMRPSFXCH.
Vice President Germán Gutiérrez Lawyer, former Mayor Pact of Social
Gantier of Sucre, former Integration
national Deputy,
former member of  the
Judicial Council, docent
Secretary Arminda Corina Teacher, Constituent New Citizen
Herrera Gonzales Assembly member for Alternative
Chuquisaca and former 
sper on butt
Nelson  Communicator, law Pact of Social
Guzmán  student, leader of Integration
Fernández Federación Universitaria
Local and the 
University Club.
Susy Barrios Psychologist, former Pact of Social
Quiroz Sub-Mayor of Integration
Districts 2 and 5
President of Feminine
Civic Committee
of Chuquisaca
Norma Rojas Executive Secretary of Pact of Social
Salazar Bolivian Red Cross and Integration
neighborhood leader
Juán Nacer Public health doctor,
Villagómez  former docent, former
Ledezma functionary of the Health
Ministry and former  MAS-IPSP
chief of the Planning
Unit of the Departmental
Health Service
Verónica 
Berríos
chosen as
interim Mayor
19 June 2010 Berrios: Laboratory
Vladimir  worker, lawyer, MAS-IPSP
Paca Lezano sociology student
alternate 
serving since
June 2010
José Santos Campesino leader,
Romero former leader of
the campesion MAS-IPSP
federation, and member
of the Association
of Milk Producers 
 of Potolo
Marlene  Businesswoman and
Rosales  leader of Fourth MAS-IPSP
Valverde Federations of
Shopkeepers of Sucre.
Lourdes Millares Lawyer, former national Pact of Social
Deputy for NFR Integration
and former head of ( ran with Sucre
PODEMOS  First)
parliamentary delegation
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 (Spanish: Subalcalde), appointed by the Mayor of Sucre. The rural districts include numerous rural communities outside the urban area.

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 Ayacucho (December 9, 1824), Don Antonio Jose de Sucre.



Buildings


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 Simon Bolivar 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


Chapels
 Loreto's Chapel
 Virgen de Guadalupe
                                                       



                                         

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