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The sleepy town of Mongua is located in the department of Boyacá in Colombia. We passed through on the scenic route between Tópaga and Monguí.
Introduction to Mongua
Mongua means “bath on the hill” or “land of the rising sun” in the Chibcha language. It was originally inhabited by the indigenous Muisca people. Franciscan monks arrived in 1555, and the settlement received a mayor in April 1799. The town wasn’t officially founded until November 4, 1977. The main economic activities are agriculture and coal mining, with the main crop being potatoes thanks to the cool climate. There are several beautiful natural attractions outside the urban area.
We had a very brief look at the town and concentrated only on the plaza. Before we left, we stopped into a bakery on one corner of the plaza and had coffee with some pastries. We enjoyed the friendly service and were able to get out of the cold for a bit.
Plaza
The large town plaza is a beautiful space surrounded by colonial buildings. Half of the plaza is open space while the other half is full of nicely manicured shrubs and trees. You’ll probably find vendors selling sweets, local crafts, and other goods as well.
Church of San Jerónimo
The attractive Church of San Jerónimo (Iglesia de San Jerónimo) is on the east side of the plaza. Constructed began in 1931 and it was completed in May 1942 under parish priest José Lisandro Cely Gutiérrez (1884-1965). Unfortunately, it wasn’t open during our visit to the town.
Sol Naciente Museum
The Sol Naciente Museum (Museo Sol Naciente) sits on one corner of the plaza. It was founded in 1965 after eight anthropomorphic sculptures and utensils corresponding to the Muisca people were discovered in the area. The museum was also closed during our visit to town.
