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Chía (Chía)

Chía is a town and municipality in the Cundinamarca department of Colombia, located to the north of Bogotá on the main road to Zipaquira. Its history dates back to the pre-Columbian era.

Due to its proximity to Bogotá, Chía has effectively become a suburb of the capital. It is also home of the Universidad de la Sabana.

Chia is also known for its gastronomy and its variety of restaurants, ones of the best-known restaurants are Andres Carne de Res, El Galapago, El Despacho and The Store of Don Chucho.

The place-name Chía, also pronounced like Chie in muysc cubun Chibcha language or Muisca language means Moon, although it also has the meanings of «light», «brightness», «glow» (of a luminous source), Month and «nettle» (plant). However, it is not strictly speaking the same word with several meanings, but of several homonymous words, each of which would be understood depending on the context in which it was pronounced.

In the case of the name of the municipality, the place name "Chía" refers to the Moon as a star and as a goddess of the Muisca mythology, in whose honour there was a temple built in the Pre-Columbian town.