26. Ibagué - Heart for Change

IBAGUÉ
Department
TOLIMA
HISTORY
Musical city of Colombia
Ibague was founded in 1550 by Andres
Lopez de Galarza but during the
colonial period it wasn't of any
significance as the neighbouring town
of Mariquita was chosen by the
Spanish as the capital of the region. It
continued as a small town until the
late XIX century when a mining boom
brought people to the region. At the
beginning of the XX century it was
named capital of the Department and
then halfway through the century it
received a great influx of people from
the countryside. Ibague continues to
be predminantly agricultural but is
growing as a business centre.
GEOGRAPHY
Ibague has an immensely diverse
geography ranging from snow peaked
mountains to warm weather valleys. It
is rich in water supply with many
rivers sprouting from its mountains.
The city is between Bogota and the
Pacific coast of Colombia so it is
connected to both by an ever better
road system.