Sincelejo () is the capital and largest city of the Colombian department of Sucre. It is also the capital of the department's subregion, Sabanas, and is the 23rd largest city by population in Colombia. It is located 30 kilometers from the Caribbean Sea at the Gulf of Morrosquillo, 125 kilometers from Cartagena, and 200 kilometers from Barranquilla.
Etymology
The origin of the name Sincelejo is a subject of controversy, and there is no consensus on its source. The most widely accepted theory is that the Spanish city is named after the cacique, Cincel, who is believed to have been the leader of the indigenous people who inhabited the area where the town was founded. One author states, without citation, that this theory is supported by documents in the General National Archives (AGN) in Bogota.
History
In the pre-columbian era, the regions lands were inhabited by several groups of indigenous people known as the Zenú.
The village of Sincelejo was founded on October 4, 1535, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, with the name San Francisco de Asís de Sincelejo. The village was part of Alonso Padilla's encomienda between 1610 and 1640, and was located on the site of a small Zenú indigenous settlement. At that time, the indigenous people were exploited by the Spanish colonizers, or "encomenderos".
On November 21, 1775, Sincelejo was re-founded by the Spanish captain and engineer, Antonio de la Torre y Miranda, following orders from Cartagena's governor, Juan de Torrezar Díaz Pimienta. The construction of the town began with a church, while the lands around the church were given to people who used to live across the region; in order to create a religious and political center within the region. The city plan of Sincelejo was intended to follow the classical Spanish colonial grid, with the main church and its square in the center of the town, but this was not possible because of several creeks that ran through its center.
In 1812, Sincelejo became shelter for the revolutionary priests in La Rebelión de los Curas (the Priests' Insurrection).
By 1887, Sincelejo was one of the largest settlements in the Province of Cartagena. In 1908 it became the capital of the short-lived department of Sincelejo (Spanish: Departamento de Sincelejo), ultimately becoming part of the Province of Cartagena again in 1910. In 1912, Sincelejo was nearly destroyed by a conflagration which consumed most of the central zone; nevertheless the town was rebuilt. With the creation of the Sucre Department in 1966, Sincelejo subsequently became its capital.
Geography
The geography of Sincelejo is characterized by a hilly landscape which extends from the mountains to the borders of the plateau in the north and south. The small mountain foothills in the municipality span from the marine fluvial plain in the west to the border shared with the town of Palmito. Erosion is common in the rugged topography of the rolling hills, which are moderately to strongly broken, with slopes between 7 and 50% and altitudes ranging from 50 to 260 meters.
Sincelejo is bordered by the municipalities of Palmito and Tolú to the west, Sampués and Córdoba Department to the south, Corozal and Morroa to the east, and Toluviejo to the north.
Climate
Sincelejo has a tropical climate and its temperatures remain fairly consistent throughout the year, with an average temperature of about 27 °C ( 80.6 °F). According to the Köppen climate classification, it has a tropical wet and dry climate (Aw) .
The drought season usually starts in December and lasts until the end of February. The rainy season then peaks in April or May. In June and July precipitation decreases, in a period called "Veranillo de San Juan", until it increases once more.
Administrative divisions
Sincelejo is subdivided into an urban zone and a rural zone. The urban zone is divided into 9 Comunas (townships), while the rural has 21 divisions called Corregimientos.