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Caldas is a department of Colombia named after Francisco José de Caldas a Colombian patriot. It's part of the Paisa Region and the capital is Manizales. Caldas is also part of the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis region along with the Risaralda and Quindio departments.
Manizales is located near the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, at a height of about 2153 meters.
Nowadays the city is the main center for the production of Colombian coffee and an important hub for higher education.
The city of Manizales is is built in a mountain region with a number of ridgelines and steep slopes. Combined with seismic instability, this has required architectural adaptations to make the city safer.
Manizales was founded October 12, 1849, in the middle of a civil war between bipartisan followers; Liberals against Conservatives. The city was founded by a group of twenty Antioquians (The Expedition of the 20), which came from Neira and Salamina. There was a strong Spanish influence with a population consisting mostly of whites, but later migration also included other ethnic groups.
Tango music is a favourite in Manizales and there is also a new apetite for jazz. The most important cultural events include the International Theater Festival, which is one of the major theater events in Latin-America, and the annual Manizales Jazz Festival which gathers Jazz Musicians from all over the world.
The famous Manizales Fair (Feria de Manizales) began in 1951 with the first centenary of the city. It started with the presentation of grand Bullfights and with typical "Manolas" parade (Spanish parade). Due to huge popularity, more shows and presentations have been brought into the fair, including the International Coffee Beauty Pageant and bullfighting. The fair is the second biggest celebration in the country, after the Barranquilla Carnival.
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