El Carmen de Viboral
Municipality and town in Andean Region, Colombia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
El Carmen de Viboral is a town and municipality in the Colombian department of Antioquia. In 2020, the population was estimated to be 62,581. It is part of the subregion of Eastern Antioquia and is located 54 km (34 mi) away from Medellín, the capital city of the Antioquia department. El Carmen de Viboral is a small town that specializes in ceramics. Many shops allow visitors to see how ceramics and other handicrafts are made.
El Carmen de Viboral | |
|---|---|
Municipality and town | |
Town center of El Carmen de Viboral | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): God, country, and work | |
| Anthem: Anthem to Carmen de Viboral | |
 Location of the municipality of Carmen de Viboral in the Antioquia Department | |
  El Carmen de Viboral Location in Colombia | |
| Coordinates: 6°5′N 75°20′W | |
| Country |  Colombia |
| Region | Andean Region |
| Department |  Antioquia Department |
| Subregion | Eastern |
| Area | |
| 423.6 km2 (163.6 sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 3.07 km2 (1.19 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,150 m (7,050 ft) |
| Population | |
| 62,581 | |
| • Density | 147.7/km2 (382.6/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 37,196 |
| • Urban density | 12,100/km2 (31,400/sq mi) |
| Website | www |
Carmen de Viboral is bordered by Cocorná in the northeast, Sonsón in the southeast, Abejorral in the southwest, La Unión and La Ceja to the west, and Rionegro and Marinilla to the northwest.
History
El Carmen de Viboral was founded on April 11, 1714. The area was first inhabited by the Tahamí people. It became a municipality in 1814.
In 1945, the Jorge Eliécer Gaitán National Ceramics School (Escuela Nacional de Cerámica Jorge Eliécer Gaitán) opened in Carmen for training in the making of ceramics.[3] This school would later expand to become the Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Industrial Technical Institute.
The town's anthem was written by Alberto Acosta Tobón and composed by Sixto Arango Gallo in 1961.[4]
A Ceramics Museum in Carmen de Viboral opened in 2012.
Ceramics
El Carmen de Viboral is well known for its handcraft ceramics, which date back to the late 19th century, specifically 1898, when Eliseo Pareja founded his first ceramics business in the town.[5] On moving to the area, he found a richness of feldspar and quartz, which are fundamental minerals in the fabrication of ceramics.
The ceramics of El Carmen de Viboral combine the indigenous and Spaniard traditions plus the American aspirations. They are unique to the region and the world. No two ceramic pieces are the same, as everything is uniquely hand painted.
Ceramics from El Carmen have been gifted to foreign leaders and politicians, including Elizabeth II and Pope Leo XIV.[5]
Education
A regional campus of the University of Antioquia opened in Carmen in 2003.
Cuisine
Typical cuisine in the town includes arepas de chócolo and cheese, as well as sweets and other Antioquian dishes such as the bandeja paisa.
Demographics
Politics
Since 1988, the mayor is chosen by popular vote and serves a term of four years.
Notable people
- Leobardo Pérez Jiménez, Colombian painter and sculptor
- Alejandro Osorio, Colombian cyclist
- Frank Osorio, Colombian cyclist
- Walter Vargas, Colombian cyclist
See also
Media related to El Carmen de Viboral at Wikimedia Commons
