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), who came from Neira and Salamina.
There is a strong Spanish influence in the culture and the population was very
homogeneous, mostly whites, until other ethnic groups migrated to the city in
search of the universities.
