Last updated on .
On August 7, 1819, an army led by Simón Bolívar crossed a small bridge known as Puente de Boyacá and defeated royalists and troops from Spain in the Battle of Boyacá. The victory sealed independence for Nuevo Granada (now Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama). Today, you can visit the battlefield and see the bridge and the many monuments commemorating the battle.
Monument to Bolívar
At the top of the hill is the Monument to Bolívar (Monumento a Bolívar), which was created by German sculptor Ferdinand von Miller. It depicts Simón Bolívar flanked by five angels representing the five countries he liberated.
From the monument, you can look down to the area containing the Puente de Boyacá.
Flags of Boyacá
Nearby is a chapel and the flags of 123 municipalities of Boyacá. This is best seen from the triumphal arch across the highway (see below).
Puente de Boyacá
The Puente de Boyacá is a small bridge. It’s hard to imagine it playing a pivotal role in an entire country’s independence. The original bridge has since been destroyed but it was reconstructed in 1939.
There is a plaza on either side of the bridge. On one side is a statue of Francisco de Paula Santander, an important military and political leader. There’s also a monument to the British Legions who fought in the Battle of Boyacá with Bolívar’s troops under Colonel James Rooke.
On the other side of the bridge is the Plaza de Banderas, which contains some flags and an eternal flame. There are also a few commemorative plaques.
Across the Highway
If you can carefully cross the highway, you can visit a few more monuments. The first monument is the Triumphal Arch (Arco del Triunfo). It represents the three principal races that make up Colombia’s ethnic mix – caucasian, African, and indigenous.
Further up the hill along a path is a bust of Cruz Carrillo, a commander at the battle.
Finally, at the top of the hill there’s an obelisk with quotes by Bolívar and others around its base. When we visited, the obelisk was in terrible shape and in need of restoration.
Getting There
To get to Puente de Boyacá, any bus traveling between Bogotá and Tunja will be able to drop you off. There’s no admission charge, and there are a few places you can get snacks if you need them. We noticed a couple of restaurants at the site buy they were closed during our visit.
