El Socorro

In March 1781 new taxes imposed by the Spanish administration provoked a rising here that spread across the region - the Comunero revolt, in which some thousands marched on Bogota and forced concessions that were then revoked once the crowd dispersed, with several leaders executed afterwards. Manuela Beltran, who according to the account tore down the tax proclamation in the plaza, is the figure most associated with the start. The town keeps cobbled streets and a large stone cathedral built in the nineteenth century, disproportionate to a town of this size and never entirely finished to the original plan. A house museum covers the revolt. It sits on the main road and is often passed through on the way to San Gil and Barichara.

History

The landowners José de Archila and José Díaz Sarmiento gave the land for the village, beside the road from Vélez to Girón, to Our Lady of Socorro, and it was set up on 16 June 1683, with its parish created that November. King Charles III raised it to a Very Noble and Loyal Villa on 25 October 1771 and granted its arms in 1773, and on 16 March 1781 the revolt of the Comuneros against new taxes broke out here. In 1795 Charles IV made it the capital of the province of Socorro, which covered more than half of today's Santander, and it was the capital of Santander from 1862 until 1886, when the seat moved to Bucaramanga (Wikipedia, Socorro, Santander).

What you'll find

• The plaza where the 1781 revolt began - over new colonial taxes.
• A very large stone cathedral - out of scale with the town.
• Cobbled colonial streets - through the old centre.
• A museum of the Comunero rising - and its aftermath.

When to go

December to March. Half a day.

Practical notes

The main highway runs through and brings traffic and noise. The town is often treated as a stop rather than a stay. Museums keep irregular hours. Labelling is Spanish only.

Nearby

San Gil is north; Barichara is beyond it.

Key facts