Sucre

Sucre (es; Quechua: Chuqichaka) is the de jure capital city of Bolivia,[1] the capital of the Chuquisaca Department and the sixth most populous city in Bolivia. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2,790 m (9,150 ft). This relatively high altitude gives the city a subtropical highland climate with cool temperatures year-round. Over the centuries, the city has received various names, including La Plata, Charcas, and Chuquisaca.[2] Today, the region is of predominantly Quechua background, with some Aymara communities and influences.

Sucre holds major national importance and is an educational and government center, as well as the location of the Bolivian Supreme Court. Its pleasant climate and low crime rates[3] have made the city popular amongst foreigners and Bolivians alike.[4] Notably, Sucre contains one of the best preserved Hispanic colonial and republican historic city centres in the Western Hemisphere - similar to cities such as Cuzco and Quito. This architectural heritage and the millenarian history of the Charcas region has led to Sucre's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has held an important place in Bolivian history from its place as an important center in the Real Audencia de Charcas, and later as the first capital of Bolivia before the fall of silver's importance as a global mineral commodity. Some regional tension remains from the historical transfer of capital functions to La Paz, and even today the issue features an important role in local culture and political ideology.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Government
* 3 Geography and territorial organization
* 3.1 Climate
* 4 The City of Four Names
* 5 Sports
* 6 Economy
* 7 Education
* 8 Architecture
* 8.1 The House of Freedom
* 8.2 National Library
* 8.3 Metropolitan Cathedral
* 8.4 Archbishop's Palace
* 8.5 Departmental Autonomous Government of Chuquisaca
* 8.6 Supreme Court of Justice
* 8.7 General Cemetery
* 8.8 Churches and Convents
* 8.9 Chapels
* 8.10 Transportation
* 9 Twin towns – sister cities
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 External links

## History

Prior to Spanish colonization, Sucre was an Inca town called Chuquisaca,[5] a name that remains an alternative designation for the city today. The name Chuquisaca possibly derives from the Quechua words chuqi, meaning 'precious metal' or 'silver', and shaqa or saqa, meaning 'abundance', 'a heap', or 'a pile of small things',[6] thus translating to 'a heap of precious metal' or 'a pile of silver'.

Chuquisaca was the provincial capital of the wamani of Charca, established after Topa Inka Yupanqui conquered the Aymara kingdom that originally occupied the area and imposed the Quechua language on them.[7] According to Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the Inca ruler received ambassadors from the kingdom of Tucman (Tucumán) while in Charca.[8] Due to their warrior background, the Charcas were excluded from various state duties and many served as soldiers,[9] being recruited in large numbers by Wayna Qhapaq for northern campaigns. During Wayna Qhapaq's wars in modern-day Ecuador, the Guarani-speaking Chiriguanos from Paraguay invaded the Charcas frontier, aided by a band of European explorers. Although the Chiriguanos were repelled by commanders sent by Wayna Qhapaq from Quito,[10] the Portuguese conquistador Aleixo Garcia is believed to be the first European to make contact with Charcas in 1525.

Although the Inca territories south of Cusco were assigned to the head conquistador Diego de Almagro, there is no record of him visiting Chuquisaca and the Charcas territory during his 1535 expedition to Collasuyo. After Almagro's murder in 1538, Francisco Pizarro, sent his brothers Gonzalo Pizarro and Hernando Pizarro to Charcas to claim the region. Hernando Pizarro traveled to Chuquisaca along with the Emperor Paullu Inca. During their visit, they met with Consara, the principal lord of the Charcas region. Consara provided crucial information about the resources of Charca, including silver mines in Porco, gold mines in Chiutamarca, copper mines in Aytacara, and tin mines in Chayanta.[5] The settlement was briefly occupied by Diego Méndez, under the orders of Diego de Almagro II, during Almagro II's uprising against Pizarro and the Spanish government.[11]

The Spanish foundation of Sucre occurred on November 30, 1538, under the name Ciudad de la Plata de la Nueva Toledo (City of Silver of New Toledo) by Pedro Anzures, Marqués de Campo Redondo. In 1559, 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 Real Audiencia of Charcas was a subdivision of the Viceroyalty of Peru until 1776, when it was transferred to the newly created Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. In 1601 the Recoleta Monastery was founded by the Franciscans. In 1609, an archbishopric was founded in the city. In 1624 St Francis Xavier University of Chuquisaca was founded.

Chuquisaca -as was its colonial name- in 1615 by the Inca painter Guamán Poma in his work "Nueva corónica y buen gobierno". Royal Library, Denmark.[12]

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 habit. 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. Sucre's University (Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca) is one of the oldest universities in the new world.

The Independence Hall of the House of Liberty during the National Constituent Congress in Chuquisaca.

On May 25, 1809, the Bolivian independence movement was started with the ringing of the bell of the Basilica of Saint Francisco. This bell was rung to the point of breakage, but it can still be found in the Basilica today: it is one of the most precious relics of the city. Until the 19th century, La Plata was the judicial, religious and cultural centre of the region. It was proclaimed provisional capital of the newly independent Upper Peru (later, Bolivia) in July 1826.[13] On July 12, 1839, President José Miguel de Velasco proclaimed a law naming the city as the capital of Bolivia, and renaming it in honor of the revolutionary leader Antonio José de Sucre.[13] After the economic decline of Potosí and its silver industry, the Bolivian seat of government was moved from Sucre to La Paz in 1898. Many [who?] argue Sucre was the location of the beginning of the Latin American independence movement against Spain. From that point of view, Bolivia was the last Spanish imperial territory in South America to gain its independence, in 1825. In 1991, Sucre became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

## Government

Plurinational Constitutional Court of Bolivia

Together with La Paz, Sucre is one of two governmental centers of Bolivia: It is the seat of the judiciary, where the Supreme Court of Justice is located. As designated in the Constitution of Bolivia, Sucre is the true capital of the nation, while La Paz is the seat of government. Sucre is also the capital city of the department of Chuquisaca. The government of the City of Sucre is divided into executive and legislative branches. The Mayor of Sucre is the executive 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.[citation needed]

The mayor of Sucre is Enrique Leaño of the Movement for Socialism, who defeated Horacio Poppe in elections held on March 3, 2021.[14]

Date Began | Date Ended | Mayor | Party | Notes

|
|
|
|

| February 7, 2000  | Germán Gutiérrez Santier  | MNR, PS1  | [15]
February 7, 2000  | January 8, 2003  | Fidel Herrera Ressini  | MBL  | Resigned in intra-party move.[15]
January 8, 2003  | October 5, 2004  | Aydeé Nava Andrade  | MBL  | [15]
October 5, 2004  | January 10, 2005  | Armando Pereira  | MNR  | Interim mayor while Nava ran in election.[15]
January 10, 2005  | Nov 2008  | Aydeé Nava Andrade  | MBL  | Elected in 2004.
Nov 2008  | May 30, 2010  | Hugo Loayza  | MBL  | Assumed office after Nava was indicted on corruption charges.[15]
May 30, 2010  | June 18, 2010  | Jaime Barrón Poveda  | PAÍS  | Elected in regional election on April 4, 2010
June 22, 2010  | January 10, 2011  | Verónica Berríos  | MAS-IPSP  | 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,[16] with the support of MAS, New Citizen Alternative, and Domingo Martínez.[17]
January 10, 2011  | January 27, 2011  | José Santos Romero  | MAS-IPSP  | Designated as interim Mayor by Sucre's Council in Resolution 03/11,[16] with three MAS votes (but not Berríos' alternate), four PAÍS votes, and that of Lourdes Millares.[17]
July 27, 2011  | January 31, 2012  | Verónica Berríos  | MAS-IPSP  | Restored to office when the Guarantees Tribunal of Chuquisaca's Superior Court of Justice annulled Resolution 03/11[16]
January 31, 2012  | May 25, 2015  | Moisés Torres Chivé  | Renewing Freedom and Democracy (LIDER)  | Elected in 2011 special election[18]
May 25, 2015  | November 13, 2019  | Iván Arciénega  | MAS-IPSP  | Elected in 2015 municipal election.[19] Resigned in 2019 national political crisis.[15]
November 14, 2019  | May 3, 2021  | Rosario López  | FRI  | Designated as interim Mayor by Sucre's Council.[15]
May 3, 2021  | Incumbent  | Enrique Leaño  | MAS-IPSP  | Elected in 2021 municipal election

The Municipal Council is the legislative branch of the government of the municipality of Sucre, the constitutional capital of Bolivia. The council consists of eleven elected members, and it elects its own President, Vice President and Secretary. The members of the municipal council elected on May 3, 2021[20] are:

* Oscar Sandy (MAS)
* Yolanda Barrios (MAS)
* Rodolfo Avilés (MAS)
* Guadalupe Fernández (MAS)
* Eduardo Lora (R-2025)
* Melisa Cortés (R-2025)
* Antonio Pino (R-2025)
* Carmen Rosa Torres (R-2025)
* Jenny Montaño (C-A)
* Gonzalo Pallares (CST)
* Edwin González (Unidos)

## Geography and territorial organization

Sucre, Bolivia

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.

Sucre is served by Alcantari Airport, situated 30 km (19 mi) to the South.

### Climate

Sucre features a subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cwb, Trewartha: Cwll),[21] with mild temperatures year round. Rain generally falls in summer thunderstorms.

The highest record temperature was 34.7 °C (94.5 °F) while the lowest record temperature was −6 °C (21 °F) Script error: No such module "weather box".

## The City of Four Names

Sucre, the capital of Bolivia.

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), Antonio José de Sucre.
* "La Ciudad Blanca" is a nickname that was bestowed upon the city because many of the colonial style houses and structures are painted white.

## Sports

Patria Olympic Stadium

Sucre has the most important sport facilities in Bolivia, and the most practiced sport in the city is football. Sucre has the second-biggest football and Olympic stadium in the country, the Estadio Patria. As of the 2019 Apertura, the 2008 champion club Universitario de Sucre was relegated from the Bolivian professional league, leaving the city without a first-division team.

Other sports are also practiced, such as swimming at la Piscina Bolivariana, basketball at numerous courts around the city, as well as taekwondo, kung fu, volleyball, tennis and racquetball.[citation needed]

## Economy

The capital's economy is based primarily on:

* Chocolate production: Chocolates Para Ti, Chocolates Taboada
* Cement Manufacturing: FANCESA National Cement Factory, Sucre
* Manufacturing of Sheep Wool and Rabbit Fur Hat Shafts and Bells: "Chuquisaca Hat Factory"
* Beer Production: Sureña
* Natural Food Production: Productos Naturales Sobre La Roca
* Tourism: Sucre Municipal Autonomous Government
* Soft Drink Production: Salvietti S.A. "The taste of our own"
* Dairy Production: PIL Chuquisaca
* Sausage Production: Cobolde.
* The Mercado Campesino marketplace is the largest in Sucre.[25]

## Education

The historic courtyard of the Royal and Pontifical University of San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca

Sucre is home to the second oldest public university in the Americas, the Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca; often abbreviated USFX. The university draws students both nationally and internationally, and different departments can be found scattered around the city. Degree areas at USFX include law, political science, medicine, odontology, chemistry, business administration, financial sciences, and more.[26]

The city also features other academic institutions such as a campus of the private university Universidad Privada del Valle, also known as Univalle, the National Teachers School (Escuela Nacional de Maestros "Mariscal Sucre"), the Universidad Privada Domingo Savio, and the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar.[citation needed]

## Architecture

The city of Sucre contains many old and classic buildings.

### The House of Freedom

View of House of Freedom from the main square May 25th square

Built in 1621, it is perhaps the most important building of the nation. The republic was founded in this building by Simón Bolívar who wrote the Bolivian Constitution.
The "Salón de la Independencia" houses the Bolivian Declaration of Independence.

### National Library

National Archives and Libraries

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 16th century.[27]

### Metropolitan Cathedral

Metropolitan Cathedral of Sucre

Built between 1559 and 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

Built in 1609, was an important religious and historic institution during colonial times.

### Departmental Autonomous Government of Chuquisaca

View of the Chuquisaca Governorship from the main square

One of the best buildings of republican architecture, this was completed in 1896. It was the first Palace of Government of Bolivia but when the government was moved to La Paz it became the Chuquisaca Governorship Palace.

### Supreme Court of Justice

Plurinational Constitutional Court of Bolivia

On July 16, 1827, the Supreme Court of the Nation was established. Its first president was Dr. Manuel Maria Urcullo. Others prominent in its history include Dr. Pantaleon Dalence, who was twice president of the Supreme Court and through his qualities became known as the 'Father of Bolivian Justice'. This institution was installed in several places before moving to its current building. It was designed in the neoclassical style under the canons of French academicism and was inaugurated on May 25, 1945.

### General Cemetery

Sucre General Cemetery

Some of the areas date from the late nineteenth century. Ornate mausoleums, tombs and gardens with magnificent old trees populate the space that is home to the graves of important people in the arts, sciences and the history both of Bolivia and of Latin America.

### Churches and Convents

Convent of San Felipe de Neri, Sucre. Church of St. Francis of Assisi

* San Felipe Nery
* San Francisco
* La Recoleta
* Santa Teresa
* Santa Clara
* Santo Domingo
* San Lazaro (The oldest church in the country and ex-Cathedral of Sucre)
* San Sebastian
* Iglesia de la Merced
* San Agustín
* Santa Mónica
* Santa Barbara
* San Miguel

### Chapels

* Loreto's Chapel
* Virgen de Guadalupe

### Transportation

The city is served by Alcantarí Airport with multiple domestic destinations on three commercial airlines.

## Twin towns – sister cities

* La Plata, Argentina[28]
* San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina[29]
* Ushuaia, Argentina * Concepción, Chile

## See also

* Antonio José de Sucre
* Charca people
* La Paz

## References

1. ↑ Gade, Daniel W. (1970). "Spatial Displacement of Latin American Seats of Government: From Sucre to La Paz as the National Capital of Bolivia". Revista Geográfica (73): 43–57. ISSN 0031-0581. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40992086.
2. ↑ "Sucre: Bolivia's Jewel of Colonial Grandeur & Architectural Fusion | LAC Geo". https://lacgeo.com/sucre-historic-city-bolivia#:~:text=Founded in 1538 as Ciudad de la Plata,harmonious blend of Indigenous and European architectural traditions..
3. ↑ "Sucre, Bolivia: Safe Or Not? | ShunCulture". https://shunculture.com/article/is-sucre-bolivia-safe.
4. ↑ onebagofdreams (2023-04-04). "Sucre, Bolivia: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Exploring the City's Hidden Gems and Local Favorites" (in en-US). https://www.onebagofdreams.com/insider-tips/sucre-bolivia-travel-guide-hidden-gems-local-favorites/.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Platt, Tristán (2006) (in es). Qaraqara-Charka: mallku, inka y rey en la provincia de Charcas (siglos XV-XVII) : historia antropológica de una confederación aymara. Plural editores. ISBN 978-99954-1-367-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=owi2A3sh_nMC&pg=PA844. "Y luego desde el dicho pueblo de Auquimarca fue el dicho Hernando Pizarro y los demás capitanes y soldados de Vuestra Majestad, juntamente con el Inca Paullo, hacia Chuquisaca, a donde es ahora la ciudad de La Plata. [...] Y asímismo les honró a los demás caciques de toda esta provincia de los Charcas, por ser los primeros que habían venido a la obediencia de Vuestra Majestad los naturales de los Charcas."
6. ↑ Romero, Francisco Carranza (2024-08-09) (in es). Diccionario Quechua Ancashino - Castellano. BOD GmbH DE. ISBN 978-84-8489-098-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=nmOoEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA216. "shaqa 1. s.: montón de cosas pequeñas (granos, piojos), cascajo. 2. adj.: amontonado, montón de, cascajoso, shaqa maki: mano con muchas verrugas, shaqa rumi: montón de piedras chicas, cascajo, shaqa naani: camino cascajoso"
7. ↑ Ellefsen, Bernardo (1978). "La dominación Incaica en Cochabamba". Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Études Andines 7 (1): 73–86. doi:10.3406/bifea.1978.1500. https://www.persee.fr/doc/bifea_0303-7495_1978_num_7_1_1500.
8. ↑ Berberián, Eduardo E.; Raffino, Rodolfo A. (1991) (in es). Culturas indígenas de los Andes Meridionales. Alhambra. ISBN 978-84-205-2049-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=YPBrAAAAMAAJ. "Estando el Inca en la Provincia de Charca, vinieron Embaxadores del reino llamado Tucman, que los Españoles llaman Tucumán, que está docientas leguas de los Charcas, al sueste..."
9. ↑ "Tras la huella del Inka en Chile - Memoria Chilena" (in es). https://www.memoriachilena.gob.cl/602/w3-article-9889.html. "Un segundo paso fue privilegiar a un grupo sometido como los Charca, una sociedad aymara parlante que recibió el honor de ser excluida de todos sus trabajos y deberes con el Estado para servir como soldados del Inka."
10. ↑ Saignes, Thierry (2007) (in es). Historia del pueblo Chiriguano. Plural editores. ISBN 978-99954-1-067-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=mmNSUqLxZu4C&pg=PA50. "En todo caso, Huayna Capac, muy preocupado, envió desde Quito a su mejor capitán, Yasca, quien volvió al Cuzco con un ejército..."
11. ↑ Baldivieso, Valentín Abecia (1939) (in es). ... Historia de Chuquisaca. Editorial Charcas. https://books.google.com/books?id=jnIKAQAAIAAJ. "Almagro se en caminó al Cuzco, de donde mandó a la villa de La Plata a Diego-Méndez con algunos caballos e infantes para subordinarla a su gobierno. Las autoridades no pudieron resistir y tuvieron de fugar, habiendo sido capturados Antonio Alvarez y Luis Villanueva, y la ciudad se sometió a Méndez, sacó mucho oro que los vecinos huidos habían dejado oculto en poder de los indios, después pasó a Porco, de donde sacó 60,000 pesos..."
12. ↑ Guamán Poma (1615). Guaman Poma, Nueva corónica y buen gobierno (1615). p. 1069. https://poma.kb.dk/permalink/2006/poma/1069/en/text/?open=idm656.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sucre., Sociedad Geográfica (1903). Diccionario geográfico del Departamento de Chuquisaca: contiene datos geográficos, históricos y estadisticos. Impr. "Bolívar" de M. Pizarro. pp. 296–97.
14. ↑ "El MAS gana en Sucre y Enrique Leaño es el nuevo alcalde" (in es). March 21, 2021. https://www.opinion.com.bo/articulo/pais/mas-gana-sucre-enrique-leano-es-nuevo-alcalde/20210321235441812562.html.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 "Ningún alcalde de Sucre cumplió su mandato completo en 20 años". Correo del Sur. 2020-11-22. https://correodelsur.com/local/20201122_ningun-alcalde-de-sucre-cumplio-su-mandato-completo-en-20-anos.html.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Fallo judicial restituye a Alcaldesa de Sucre". Los Tiempos [byline: Correo del Sur]. 2011-01-28. http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/politica/20110128/fallo-judicial-restituye-a-alcaldesa-de-sucre_110589_217524.html.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Escándalo frena elección edil y abre paso a negociaciones". Correo del Sur. 2011-06-02. http://www.correodelsur.com/2011/0602/36.php.
18. ↑ "Torres ya es Alcalde de Sucre". Correo del Sur. 2012-01-31. http://www.correodelsur.com/2012/0131/15.php.
19. ↑ Donoso, Yuvert. "Arciénega triunfa; le falta mayoría - La Razón". La Razón. http://www.la-razon.com/nacional/animal_electoral/Subnacionales-Arcienega-triunfa-falta-mayoria_0_2244975522.html.
20. ↑ "Cinco fuerzas políticas conformarán el Concejo Municipal de Sucre" (in es). https://correodelsur.com/local/20210309_cinco-fuerzas-politicas-conformaran-el-concejo-municipal-de-sucre.html.
21. ↑ "Climate: Sucre - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. http://en.climate-data.org/location/3849/.
22. ↑ "Base de datos Sistema Meteorológico–SISMET" (in es). Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia. http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet.
23. ↑ "índices climáticos para 149 estaciones meteorológicas en Bolivia" (in es). Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia. https://www.scribd.com/document/542708736/Indices-Agrometeorologicos-149-Estaciones.
24. ↑ "Klimatafel von Sucre, Prov. Chiquisaca / Bolivien" (in de). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world. Deutscher Wetterdienst. http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_852830_kt.pdf.
25. ↑ Cainco Chuquisaca, Camara De Industria, Comercio, Sucre Bolivia.
26. ↑ "Facultades". https://www.usfx.bo/principal/facultades/.
27. ↑ Archivo y Biblioteca Nacionales de Bolivia, Anuario de Estudios Bolivianos, Archivisticos y Bibliograficos. No.14 - 2008, p.301ff
28. ↑ "De Sucre a Jiujiang y pasando por Bologna estas son las ciudades hermanas de La Plata" (in es). 0221. 2019-02-02. https://www.0221.com.ar/nota/2019-2-2-8-12-0-de-sucre-a-jiujiang-y-pasando-por-bologna-estas-son-las-ciudades-hermanas-de-la-plata.
29. ↑ "Hermanamiento de Ciudades" (in es). San Miguel de Tucumán. https://www.smt.gob.ar/programas/13/hermanamiento-de-ciudades.

## External links

* Sucre travel guide from Wikivoyage
* UNESCO World Heritage Site

Template:World Heritage Sites in Bolivia

Template:List of South American capitals

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