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Nueva Pamplona del Valle del Espíritu Santo, name with which Pedro de Ursúa and Ortún Velasco de Velásquez paid homage to the capital of the province of Navarra (Spain). Pamplona was founded on November 1, 1549. The expeditions that founded, among others, to Mérida, San Cristóbal and La Grita (Venezuela) departed from there; and Ocaña, Salazar, Chinácota, San Faustino, Bucaramanga and San José de Cúcuta (Colombia).

The indigenous people known as Chitareros, were the first inhabitants of the old province of Pamplona. They were called that way by the Spaniards, due to the general custom that men had of carrying a squash or totumo with chicha or corn wine attached to their waists as the Spaniards called them. Asking the name of the subject they were carrying, they replied that he was a chitarero.

When the area was occupied by Pedro de Ursúa and Ortún Velasco in 1549, they reduced the primitive settlers to the encomienda regime. About 100 groups or captains were distributed in 53 parcels throughout the territory, according to researcher Jaramillo Uribe.





Full Name: Pamplona

Foundation: November 1, 1549.

Founder: Pedro de Ursúa and Ortún Velasco de Velásquez.

Population: DANE 2005 Census: 53,147 inhabitants

Altitude: 2,287 meters above sea level.

Extension: 1342 Km2

Climate: 16 ° C.



Distance to Cúcuta: 75 Km

Geographic coordinates: Longitude west of Greenwich 72º 39´, North latitude 7º 23´

Limits: North: Cucutilla and Pamplonita,

South: Mutiscua,

East: Chitagá and Labateca,

West: Santander Department.



Administrative Division: Composed of 2 townships and 38 villages

Rivers: Pamplonita, Sulasquilla and the El Alisa, La Ramada, Quelpa, San Agustín, Monteadentro and La Lejía streams.

Region: South Western

Economy:

Agricultural production: potato is its main product, followed by strawberry, garlic, wheat, red pepper, corn, beans, and carrots.

Livestock exploitation such as cattle, swine, fish farming, rabbit and poultry

Commercial activity: production of food such as sweets and snacks, production of fabrics, the hotel industry and tourism.





Holidays:

July 4: Anniversary of the municipality

Easter

International festival of orchestras

National university reign,

Ponqué Fair and snacks

craft fair

International fair for musical bands

Tourist sites:

Colonial House Museum

Museum of religious art

House of Águeda Gallardo

Nazareth meeting house

Museum of Modern Art (Casa de las Marías)

Hermitage of the snows

Old cathedral of Pamplona.

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