San Gil's
history goes back to pre-Columbian times, when it was inhabited by native indigenous
societies called the Guane Indians. Spanish conquest during the colonial period
nearly eradicated the local tribes. The town was officially founded on March
17, 1689 by Don Gil Cabrera Dávalos and Leonardo Correa de Betancourt.
According to official sources, San Gil played an important role during the Colombian
independence period. "Comuneros" rebels came from nearby regions,
united, traveled to the capital, Bogota, and fought for the nation's
independence, a process which
