Belalcázar, Colombia

With a population of just under 37,000, Belalcázar is a relatively small city in Colombia's rugged Andes mountains. The conquistador Sebastián de Belalcázar founded it in 1537 as part of his quest to expand Spanish rule, but today it remains a place of persistent bureaucracy and land disputes - a legacy of its violent colonial origins. While the city's natural setting may appeal to some, its history of infighting between rival conquistadors suggests this is not the easiest place for a foreigner to put down roots.