Colombia - Catholic Doctrine Temples

Municipality of Páez-Belalcázar N2 38 42.95 W75 58 19.86 Municipality of Inzá N2 32 59.74 W76 3 54.54 This group of seven temples is situated in a particular area between volcanoes, rivers and spectacular views of all which provide for the existence of thermal floors varying from warm to paramo generating a broad diversity of flora and fauna as well as several water sources. Several groups of Pre-Hispanic indigenous groups inhabited the area, their most important legacy is represented in the hypogea or burial structures of Tierradentro located in the reservation of San Andrés de Pisimbalá and that were built between the 9th and 12th centuries A.D., These sites are protected by the Colombian legislation and are inscribed on the World Heritage List. These temples represent the triumph of the Spanish conquest process in this part of the territory, in a period in which colonization and evangelization were already well advanced in other areas of the country. In 1537 Juan de Ampudia (Outpost Leader of Sebastián de Belalcázar), Sebastián Quintero and Bartolomé Ruíz unsuccessfully attempted the subjection of the Paeces, Pijaos and Yalcones indigenous groups, encountering strong resistance. It was only until 1783, when Jerónimo Inzá founded the town of the same name, when the Spaniards managed to permanently settle in the area. As an immediate result of the foundation of this and the towns of Belalcázar and La Plata, the Paeces group became enclosed in the area leading to the subsequent establishment of reservations and what would be the start of the evangelization process, which began with the visit of reverend José Fernández de Belalcázar to the Pisimbalá reservation.