According to SIMPLYYELLOWPAGES, Caracas is the capital of Venezuela. The city was founded in 1567 by Diego de Losada in a mountain valley among the ridges of the Andean Coastal (Cordillera de la Costa). Today, Caracas is a large metropolitan city, whose agglomeration extends over an area of 1900 square meters. km from the mountains to the coast. Various periods of Venezuelan history have left their mark on the architecture of the city. Now it perfectly combines modern high-rise buildings and buildings of the colonial period.
The main historical sights of Caracas are concentrated near Bolivar Square, in the center of which stands a monument to the national hero Simon Bolivar. On the east side of the square rises the Cathedral. It was built in the 16th century and completely rebuilt in the 17th century after a devastating earthquake. The cathedral is notable for the fact that here are the graves of Simon Bolivar’s parents. Next to the cathedral in an old colonial building is the Sacro de Caracas Museum. Here are objects of religious art. In the southern part of the square you can see the building of the Municipality of the 17th century. On its ground floor there is the Santana Museum, where you can learn about the history of the development of Caracas with the help of miniature copies. Adjacent to the Municipality building is the Chapel of the Holy Rose, where in 1811 the independence of the republic was proclaimed. In addition, in the vicinity of Bolivar Square are the buildings of the National Congress, built in 1873, and Casa Amarilla of the 17th century (now housing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the neo-Gothic church of Iglesia Santa Capilla of the 19th century, the church of Iglesia de San Francisco of the 16th century, the church of Iglesia de la Candelaria 18th century, the Bolivar House Museum, where Simon Bolivar was born in 1783, the Bolivariano Museum and the National Pantheon, where Simon Bolivar’s remains are kept.
East of Bolivar Square is the cultural center of Caracas – the so-called “Museum District” – Park Central. This is where the National Gallery is located., in which you can see art objects from the pre-colonial period to the present, the Museum of Fine Arts and the main theater of the country – Teresa Carenno Theater. In the 70-80s of the 20th century, two 225-meter skyscrapers were erected in Park Central, which are the tallest buildings in South America. On the 52nd floor of the western tower there is an observation deck from where you can see the whole of Caracas and its surroundings.
Be sure to visit the Sabana Grande area, which is the center of the city’s nightlife. Numerous shops, hotels, restaurants, bars and discos are located here. Also in the city there are several extensive parks where you can relax. it Los Cabos Park, the Botanical Gardens of the Central University of Venezuela and Del Este Park with a small zoo and planetarium.
However, tourists are more attracted to a completely different park – located north of Caracas on the slopes of the Avila mountain range Avila National Park (El Avila National Park). The Avila Ridge separates Caracas from the Caribbean coast, the highest point is Naiguata Peak (2765 m). You can get here from Caracas by cable car “teleferiko”, by off-road vehicles or on foot along hiking trails. The cable car runs from Mariperez metro station to El Avila peak (2175 m). At the top of the El Avila peak, there is an observation deck that offers a breathtaking view of Caracas and the Caribbean coast. You need to go here in the first half of the day, as in the evening hours visibility is often worsened by haze or haze. In total, Avila National Park occupies 81,800 hectares. It stretches along the mountain range from west to east for 90 km. The park was created in 2002 to protect the mountain forests surrounding the Venezuelan capital.. There are 1800 plant species, about 120 mammal species, 30 reptile species, 20 amphibian species, about 100 butterfly species and 500 bird species. For hikers, Avila National Park offers about 200 km of hiking trails and several campsites. There are several other parks around Caracas. From the west, the National Park of Avila is adjacent to the Macarao National Park with an area of 15,000 hectares. It is designed to protect the natural world of the banks of the main water arteries in the environs of Caracas – the rivers Macarao, San Pedro and Jarillo, as well as the biodiversity of the coastal mountains. 263 bird species have been recorded in the park, 12 of which are endemic. In the vicinity of the Macarao National Park, 60 km west of Caracas in a mountain valley at an altitude of 1700 m, the city of La Colonia Tovar is located. It was founded in 1843 by German settlers, and today almost all of its inhabitants are of German origin. The Tovar colony is fundamentally different from other settlements in Venezuela, until the middle of the 20th century the town was isolated, which allowed the descendants of German colonists to preserve their culture.
South of Caracas is the Guatotopo National Park. (Guatopo National Park), which, like the Macarao National Park, protects the river basins that supply the capital of Venezuela with fresh water. There are more than 400 species of plants, many mammals (various monkeys, deer, tapirs, jaguars, cougars and margays) and 400 species of birds.
Caracas is the starting point for traveling around the country, and there are many interesting places in Venezuela. From here you can go to the islands of the Los Roques archipelago, Isla de Margarita, Morrocoy Marine National park and Mochima National Park (Mochima National Park), which are internationally recognized dive centers and beach resorts. From Caracas, they set out on exciting journeys through the tall grass savannah of Llanos (Los Llanos), the ridges of the Cordillera de Merida (Cordillera de Merida), the Orinoco Delta (Delta Amacuro), the largest lake in South America – Maracaibo (Lago Maracaibo) – and the Guiana Highlands, whose table mountains and waterfalls are protected by the most famous park in Venezuela – the Canaima National Park.
