Sucre Charcas La Plata, Chuquisaca
Panorama of the Old Town of Sucre.
Flag
Nickname(s): The White City, City of the 4 Names
Sucre Location of Sucre within Bolivia.
Coordinates: 19°2′2.04″S 65°15′45.36″W / 19.0339°S 65.2626°W / -19.0339; -65.2626Coordinates: 19°2′2.04″S 65°15′45.36″W / 19.0339°S 65.2626°W / -19.0339; -65.2626
Country	Bolivia
Departament	Chuquisaca
Province	Oropeza Province
Founded	September 29, 1539
Government
- Mayor	Verónica Berríos
Elevation	2,750 m (9,022 ft)
Population (2006)
- Total	225,000
Time zone	GMT −4
Area code(s)	4
Website	www.sucre.gob.bo/
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Historic City of Sucre
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	iv
Designated:	1991 (15th session)
Reference #:	566
State Party:	Bolivia
Region:	Latin America and the Caribbean

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.

Festival time in Sucre

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.

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:

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.

Sucre is served by Juana Azurduy de Padilla International Airport, situated 5 km to the Northwest and connected by Avenida Juana Azurduy de Padilla.

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

See also

• Antonio José de Sucre
• Charca people
• La Paz

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "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. Retrieved 2011-01-30. 

World Heritage Sites in Bolivia Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos · Fuerte de Samaipata · Noel Kempff Mercado National Park · City of Potosí · Historic City of Sucre · Tiwanaku: Spiritual and Political Centre of the Tiwanaku Culture

Chuquisaca Department Capital: Sucre Provinces Azurduy • Belisario Boeto • Hernando Siles • Jaime Zudáñez • Luis Calvo • Nor Cinti • Oropeza • Sud Cinti • Tomina • Yamparáez Municipalities and seats Camargo (Camargo) • Camataqui (Camataqui) • Culpina (Culpina) • El Villar (El Villar) • Huacareta (Huacareta) • Huacaya (Huacaya) • Icla (Icla) • Incahuasi (Incahuasi) • Las Carreras (Las Carreras) • Macharetí (Macharetí) • Mojocoya (Mojocoya) • Monteagudo (Monteagudo) • Muyupampa (Villa Vaca Guzmán) • Padilla (Padilla) • Poroma (Poroma) • Presto (Presto) • San Lucas (San Lucas) • Sopachuy (Sopachuy) • Sucre (Sucre) • Tarabuco (Tarabuco) • Tarvita (Tarvita) • Tomina (Tomina) • Villa Alcalá (Villa Alcalá) • Villa Charcas (Villa Charcas) • Villa Serrano (Villa Serrano) • Villa Zudáñez (Zudáñez) • Yotala (Yotala) • Villa Azurduy (Azurduy) • Yamparáez (Yamparáez)