Sucre (Spanish: [ˈsukɾe]; Quechua: Chuqichaka; Aymara: Sukri; Guarani: Sucre), officially called La Ilustre y Heroica Sucre ("The Illustrious and Heroic Sucre"), is the official capital city of Bolivia. It is also the capital of the Chuquisaca Department and the sixth most populated city in Bolivia. Sucre is located in the south-central part of the country and sits at an elevation of 2,790 meters (9,150 feet). This makes it the second-highest capital city in the world after Quito. The city's high altitude creates a subtropical highland climate with cool temperatures throughout the year. Over time, the city has been known by many names, including La Plata, Charcas, and Chuquisaca. Today, the region is mainly home to people of Quechua heritage, with some Aymara communities and cultural influences.

Sucre is an important city in Bolivia. It serves as a center for education and government, and it is where the Bolivian Supreme Court is located. The city's comfortable climate and low crime rates make it a popular place for both foreigners and Bolivians. Sucre is also known for having one of the best-preserved historic city centers from the Hispanic colonial and republican periods in the Western Hemisphere. This area is similar to cities like Cuzco and Quito. Because of its unique architecture and the long history of the Charcas region, Sucre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has played a key role in Bolivia's history, including its time as the center of the Real Audencia de Charcas and as Bolivia's first capital before silver lost its importance as a major global resource. Some tensions remain from the past when the capital functions were moved to La Paz, and this topic still influences local culture and political ideas today.

History

Before Spanish colonization, Sucre was an Inca town named Chuquisaca, a name still used for the city today. The name Chuquisaca may come from the Quechua words chuqi, meaning "precious metal" or "silver," and shaqa or saqa, meaning "abundance," "a heap," or "a pile of small things." This suggests the name means "a heap of precious metal" or "a pile of silver."

Chuquisaca was the provincial capital of the wamani of Charca, created after Topa Inka Yupanqui conquered the Aymara kingdom that lived in the area and made the Quechua language the official language. According to Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the Inca ruler met ambassadors from the kingdom of Tucumán while in Charca. Because the Charcas had a history of fighting, they were not allowed to hold many government jobs and often became soldiers. Many were recruited by Wayna Qhapaq for military campaigns in what is now Ecuador. During these wars, the Guarani-speaking Chiriguanos from Paraguay, helped by European explorers, attacked the Charcas frontier. Although the Chiriguanos were driven back by commanders sent from Quito, the Portuguese explorer Aleixo Garcia is believed to have been the first European to meet the Charcas in 1525.

Although the Inca lands south of Cusco were assigned to conquistador Diego de Almagro, there is no record of him visiting Chuquisaca or the Charcas region during his 1535 expedition to Collasuyo. After Almagro was killed in 1538, Francisco Pizarro sent his brothers Gonzalo Pizarro and Hernando Pizarro to Charcas to claim the area. Hernando Pizarro traveled to Chuquisaca with Emperor Paullu Inca. During their visit, they met Consara, the main leader of the Charcas region. Consara shared important information about the resources in Charca, including silver mines in Porco, gold mines in Chiutamarca, copper mines in Aytacara, and tin mines in Chayanta. The settlement was briefly controlled by Diego Méndez, acting on orders from Diego de Almagro II, during Almagro II's rebellion against Pizarro and the Spanish government.

The Spanish founded Sucre on November 30, 1538, naming it Ciudad de la Plata de la Nueva Toledo (City of Silver of New Toledo) under Pedro Anzures, Marqués de Campo Redondo. In 1559, Spanish King Philip II created the Audiencia de Charcas in La Plata, which had authority over areas now including Paraguay, southeastern Peru, northern Chile, Argentina, and much of Bolivia. The Real Audiencia of Charcas was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru until 1776, when it was moved to the newly created Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. In 1601, the Recoleta Monastery was built by the Franciscans. In 1609, an archbishopric was established in the city. In 1624, St Francis Xavier University of Chuquisaca was founded.

During the colonial era, Sucre was a Spanish city. The city center had narrow streets arranged in a grid, showing the influence of Andalusian culture in the design of the city's large houses, convents, and churches. Sucre remains the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Bolivia, and religious figures often wear traditional clothing. For much of its colonial history, Sucre's mild climate made it a preferred location for Spanish royalty and wealthy families involved in the silver trade from Potosí. Sucre's University (Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca) is one of the oldest universities in the Americas.

On May 25, 1809, the Bolivian independence movement began with the ringing of the bell at the Basilica of Saint Francisco. The bell was rung until it broke, but it is still displayed in the basilica today and is considered a valuable relic of the city. Until the 19th century, La Plata was the region's center for law, religion, and culture. It became the provisional capital of Upper Peru (later Bolivia) in July 1826. On July 12, 1839, President José Miguel de Velasco passed a law naming the city the capital of Bolivia and renaming it in honor of Antonio José de Sucre, a revolutionary leader. After the decline of Potosí's silver industry, the Bolivian government moved from Sucre to La Paz in 1898. Some believe Sucre was the starting point of the Latin American independence movement against Spain. From this perspective, Bolivia was the last Spanish territory in South America to gain independence, in 1825. In 1991, Sucre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Government

Sucre and La Paz are the two main government centers in Bolivia. Sucre is where the Supreme Court of Justice is located, making it the seat of the judiciary. As stated in the Constitution of Bolivia, Sucre is the true capital of the nation, while La Paz is where the government is based. Sucre is also the capital city of the Chuquisaca department. The government of Sucre is divided into two parts: the executive branch and the legislative branch. The mayor of Sucre is the leader of the city’s government and is elected by voters in a general election for a term of five years. The legislative branch is called the Municipal Council, which is made up of eleven members. These members elect a president, vice president, and secretary to lead the council.

The current mayor of Sucre is Enrique Leaño, who is part of the Movement for Socialism. He won the election on March 3, 2021, defeating Horacio Poppe.

The Municipal Council is the legislative part of Sucre’s government, which is the constitutional capital of Bolivia. The council has eleven members who are elected by voters. These members choose their own president, vice president, and secretary. The members of the Municipal Council elected on May 3, 2021, are:

• Oscar Sandy (MAS)
• Yolanda Barrios (MAS)
• Rodolfo Avilés (MAS)
• Guadalupe Fernández (MAS)
• Eduardo Lora (R-2025)
• Melisa Cortés (R-2025)
• Antonio Pino (R-2025)
• Carmen Rosa Torres (R-2025)
• Jenny Montaño (C-A)
• Gonzalo Pallares (CST)
• Edwin González (Unidos)

Geography and territorial organization

Sucre is located at the beginning of valleys with a warm and dry climate, at an altitude of 2,798 meters above sea level. It is in the geographic region of Bolivia's inter-Andean valleys, between the highlands of the Andean plateau and the lowlands of the Gran Chaco plains. This area is where the Amazon basin (the Chico and Grande rivers) meets the La Plata River basin (the Cachimayu and Pilcomayu rivers).

The city is in Oropeza Province of the Chuquisaca Department, at the base of the Sica Sica and Churuquella hills (two old, inactive volcanoes), in the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. It is near the place where mountain ranges lower in height and create a warm and dry climate at the start of valleys.

Sucre is divided into eight numbered districts. The first five are urban areas, while districts 6, 7, and 8 are rural areas. Each district is managed by a Sub-Mayor (Spanish: Subalcalde), chosen by the Mayor of Sucre. The rural districts include many communities located outside the city.

Alcantari Airport serves Sucre and is 30 kilometers (19 miles) to the south.

Sucre has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cwb, Trewartha: Cwll), with mild temperatures throughout the year. Rain usually falls during summer thunderstorms.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Sucre was 34.7°C (94.5°F), and the lowest was −6°C (21°F).

The City of Four Names

Each name shows a different time in the city's history:

• Charcas was the name used by the local people before the Spanish arrived.
• La Plata was the name given to the new city built by Spanish people who held important positions.
• Chuquisaca was the name given during the time when the city became independent.
• Sucre honors a famous military leader, Antonio José de Sucre, who fought in the Battle of Ayacucho on December 9, 1824.
• "La Ciudad Blanca" is a nickname given because many old buildings from the colonial period are painted white.

Culture

This city played an important role in spreading this dance, as some of the oldest and most beautiful pieces of this type were created by artists from Chuquisaca, such as Miguel Ángel Valda Paredes and Simeón Roncal. Two styles of cueca are especially notable: one that is popular and another called the salon cueca, which has a slower rhythm similar to the meter of the Argentine zamba.

This dance began in the bars and chicherías of the White City and was performed by student groups called estudiantinas. Over time, this rhythm became widespread and was adopted by other regions, such as Cochabamba, which now includes it as a local tradition.

This dance is unique because it includes many characters, such as devils, imillas (young women), lions, awelos (old men), little monkeys, a rooster, couples, and the sicuris, which are musical instruments. The couples signal the start of the music by shaking their rattles (matracas) when the sicuris play. They dance in the center with lively, hopping steps. Other characters, led by the devils, form lines and columns around the couples. The imillas stand behind the couples and move forward with their own steps.

When the music stops, all characters except the imillas and couples interact and perform short, spontaneous scenes inspired by the moment, creating a type of theater meant to entertain people. Usually, the devils and lions team up against other characters, but the rooster often teases nearby women by pretending to step on them.

This dance is performed during patron saint festivals in Sucre and nearby areas such as Yamparáez, Tomina, and parts of Belisario Boeto. There are no known studies about its meaning or origin, and while a similar dance exists in Potosí called thanta morenos, it has different features. In summary, this dance combines music, dance, and theater, making it unique in Bolivia.

Sucre has many traditional dishes that change with the seasons, such as mondongo for All Saints’ Day and picana for Christmas. Popular dishes include chorizos chuquisaqueños, c’kocko de pollo, picante de pollo, mondongo chuquisaqueño, and cazuela de maní. The typical drink is chicha criolla.

Sucre is also well-known for its many chocolate and candy-making companies, whose products are enjoyed by visitors.

Sports

In Sucre, many sports are played, including football. The most well-known football team is Universitario de Sucre, which currently plays in the second division of Bolivian football. This team has performed well and has represented Bolivia in the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa Libertadores. It won the national football championship in 2008 and 2014. Today, the team that represents Sucre is Independiente Petrolero. This team has many fans in the city and plays in the Bolivian Professional Football League after returning to professional football by finishing as runners-up in the 2020 Copa Simón Bolívar.

Other football teams, such as Fancesa and Stormers Sporting Club, have a history of success in Bolivia. These teams now play in the second division or regional leagues and are strong competitors. Another team is Estudiantes from El Rollo, which is very popular in that area but is not part of the Chuquisaca Football Association due to financial reasons.

Other sports played in Sucre include tennis, swimming, racquetball, volleyball, martial arts like judo and karate, boxing, futsal, motorsports, and cycling. Sucre is an important center for training and competing in sports both in Bolivia and around the world. The city has major sports facilities, such as the Estadio Olímpico Patria, one of the largest stadiums in Bolivia; the Polideportivo Coliseum, the biggest of its kind in Bolivia; and the Bolivarian Swimming Pool, which is the largest and highest-quality swimming pool in the country.

Sucre is also a key place for motorsports. It hosts the Óscar Crespo Circuit, one of the oldest and most important racing tracks in Bolivia. The city is known as a place where champions are trained. In 2009, Sucre hosted a race in the CODASUR Rally, and it plans to host the event again this year. Additionally, Sucre was the host city of the 16th Bolivarian Games.

Economy

The capital's economy mainly depends on:

• Chocolate Making: Companies like Chocolates Para Ti and Chocolates Taboada
• Cement Production: Factories such as FANCESA National Cement Factory and Sucre
• Manufacturing of Sheep Wool and Rabbit Fur Hat Shafts and Bells: The Chuquisaca Hat Factory
• Beer Production: Sureña
• Natural Food Production: Productos Naturales Sobre La Roca
• Tourism: Managed by the Sucre Municipal Autonomous Government
• Soft Drink Production: Salvietti S.A., known as "The taste of our own"
• Dairy Production: PIL Chuquisaca
• Sausage Production: Cobolde
• The Mercado Campesino marketplace is the largest in Sucre.

Education

Sucre is home to the second oldest public university in the Americas, called the Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, which is often shortened to USFX. The university attracts students from both within the country and around the world, and its different departments are located in various parts of the city. USFX offers degrees in fields such as law, political science, medicine, dentistry, chemistry, business administration, financial sciences, and others.

The city also has other educational institutions, including a campus of the private university Universidad Privada del Valle, known as Univalle, the National Teachers School (Escuela Nacional de Maestros "Mariscal Sucre"), the Universidad Privada Domingo Savio, and the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar.

Architecture

The city of Sucre has many old and classic buildings.

One important building was built in 1621. It is the most important building in the nation. The republic was started in this building by Simón Bolívar, who wrote the Bolivian Constitution. The "Salón de la Independencia" holds the Bolivian Declaration of Independence.

Another important building was built in the same year the republic was founded. It is the first and most important place in the country for keeping historical, book, and document records. The National Library has documents from the 16th century.

The cathedral was built between 1559 and 1712. It has the "Museo Catedraliceo," which is the first and most important religious museum in the country. The "Pinacoteca" has many paintings by artists from the colonial and republican periods, as well as by European artists like Bitti, Fourchaudt, and Van Dyck. The cathedral also has many pieces of jewelry made of gold, silver, and gemstones.

A building constructed in 1609 was an important religious and historical place during the colonial period.

One of the best examples of republican-style architecture was completed in 1896. It was the first Palace of Government in Bolivia. When the government moved to La Paz, it became the Chuquisaca Governorship Palace.

On July 16, 1827, the Supreme Court of the Nation was created. Its first president was Dr. Manuel Maria Urcullo. Other important people in its history include Dr. Pantaleon Dalence, who was president twice and became known as the "Father of Bolivian Justice." This institution was in different places before moving to its current building. It was designed in the neoclassical style, following French academic rules, and was opened on May 25, 1945.

Some parts of the area date back to the late 1800s. Ornate mausoleums, tombs, and gardens with old, large trees are found in the space that holds the graves of important people in the arts, sciences, and history of Bolivia and Latin America.

Churches and chapels in Sucre include:
• San Felipe Nery
• San Francisco
• La Recoleta
• Santa Teresa
• Santa Clara
• Santo Domingo
• San Lazaro (The oldest church in the country and former cathedral of Sucre)
• San Sebastian
• Iglesia de la Merced
• San Agustín
• Santa Mónica
• Santa Barbara
• San Miguel

Other places include:
• Loreto's Chapel
• Virgen de Guadalupe

Transportation

Alcantarí International Airport is located about 30 kilometers southeast of the city. It provides regular flights to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, La Paz, Cochabamba, and other destinations. This is the city’s third airport, following the Lajastambo airfield, which was built during the Chaco War in the late 1930s and is now demolished and turned into urban areas, and the former Juana Azurduy de Padilla Airport.

The bus terminal, opened in 1975, is located on Ostria Gutiérrez Avenue. It offers frequent national and regional transportation services.

By land, the city is connected to Potosí through Route 5 to the southwest, which continues to Uyuni. The same route heading north leads to Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.

Twin towns – sister cities

• La Plata, Argentina
• San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
• Ushuaia, Argentina
• Concepción, Chile