Guadalajara de Buga

Guadalajara de Buga, popularly known as 'Buga' or the 'Lady City', is one of Colombia's oldest urban settlements, founded on 4 March 1555. With 118,000 inhabitants and an altitude of 977 metres above sea level, the city holds a rich colonial heritage enshrined in its declaration as Urban Material Heritage and its inclusion in the Network of Heritage Towns. King Philip II granted it city status in 1573, cementing its historical weight in the region.

Buga is the leading religious tourism destination in south-western Colombia and the first municipality in the country to join the World Network of Religious and Spiritual Tourism Destinations. The Basilica of the Lord of Miracles receives more than one million pilgrims a year, generating a significant economic dynamic around tourism and services. In the realm of citizen wellbeing, Buga integrates tourism, heritage and physical activity as vectors of quality of life, participating actively in sport and health initiatives promoted by ACES América.