Caracas
10°30′N 66°55′W / 10.500°N 66.917°W
Santiago de León de Caracas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname: | |
| Motto(s): Ave María Santísima, sin pecado concebida, en el primer instante de su ser natural.
(English: Hail Holiest Mary, conceived without sin, in the first instant of Your Natural Being) | |
 | |
| Country | Venezuela |
| State | Distrito Capital / Miranda |
| Counties | Libertador, Chacao, Baruta, Sucre, El Hatillo |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Juan Barreto (2004 – 2008) |
| Elevation | 900 m (3,000 ft) |
| Population (2005) | |
• City | 3,276,000 |
| • Urban | 4,700,000 |
| Website | alcaldiamayor.gob.ve
|
Caracas (pron. IPA [ka'ɾakas]) is the capital of Venezuela. It is located in the north of the country, following the contours of a narrow mountain valley located on the Venezuelan coastal range (Cordillera de la Costa). The valley's temperatures are springlike, and the urbanizable terrain of the Caracas Valley lies between 2,500 and 3,000 ft (760 and 910 m) above sea level. The Valley is close to the Caribbean Sea , separated from the coast by a steep mountain range (Cerro Ávila) that rises above 7400 ft (2200 m); to the south lies further hills and mountains. The historic center of Caracas, known as the Libertador District, had an estimated population of 2.1 million in 2005[1]. In that same year, the official metropolitan area[2] had an estimated population of 3.3 million[3]. Distrito Capital is the name of Caracas' primary seat, covering part of Miranda State. The population of Caracas' urban agglomeration (Greater Caracas, including neighbouring cities out of Distrito Capital) is about 4.7 million.[4]
History
More than five hundred years ago, the area was populated by peaceful Indian tribes and Caracas did not exist. Years went by, and Francisco Fajardo, the first colonizer founded a plantation there in 1562. Fajardo's stay in the valley did not last long, and he was expelled by the Indians who returned to their flower-filled freedom. This wast the last rebellion on the part of the aborigines, for on July 25, 1567, the Spanish captain Diego de Losada laid the foundations of the city of Santiago de León de Caracas, and the Indian settlement of Catuchacao became transformed under the influence of the colonizers into the new city of Caracas.
The cultivation of cocoa stimulated the development of the city which became the capital of the province of Venezuela. In 1577, Caracas still grew horizontally; young grass with its houses, with courtyards and corridors...This was the atmosphere the city had during the years of the coffee and cocoa trade, with Creole orchids and iron grilles against a back cloth of moss and siesta time.
An attempt at revolution to gain independence organized by José María España and Manuel Gual was put down on July 13, 1797. But the ideas of the French Revolution and the American Wars of Independence inspired the people, and on July 5, 1811 a Declaration of Independence was signed in Caracas. This city was the birthplace of two of Latin America's most important figures: Francisco de Miranda and "El Libertador" Simón Bolívar. An earthquake destroyed Caracas on March 26, 1812 and was portrayed by authorities as a divine punishment for rebelling against the Spanish Crown, during the Venezuelan War of Independence. The valley became a cemetery, and the war continued until June 24, 1821, when Bolívar gained a decisive victory over the Royalists at Carabobo.
As the economy of oil-rich Venezuela grew steadily during the first part of the 20th century, Caracas became one of Latin America's economic centers, and was also known as the preferred hub between Europe and South America. On October 17 2004, one of the Parque Central Torre towers caught fire.
Reference: The history and geography of a valley, by Maurice Wiesenthal, article appeared in the book Caracas, published in 1981.
Flag
The flag of Caracas consists of a burgundy red field with the version of the Coat of Arms of the City effective since the decade of 1980. The red field, remembrance of the predominant color in the royal pennants of Colonial Caracas, symbolizes the blood spilled by Caraquenian people in favor of Independence and the highest Ideals of the Venezuelan Nation. The original design of the Caracas Flag appeared in the decade of 1980 and consisted of a burgundy red cloth with the version of the then adopted and still effective Coat of Arms located to the canton. Later, in 1994, presumably as a result of the change of municipal authorities, it was decided to place the Caracas coat of arms slightly increased of size on the center of the field, a configuration that is maintained at the present time.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of the City of Caracas was adopted by the Libertador Municipality to identify itself and later the Metropolitan Mayor Office assumed the lion, the scallop and the St. James Cross for the same aim. Symbolically speaking, this raised a conflict then that Caracas identifies the Coat of Arms of the Capital of the Republic.
Anthem
The anthem of the City is the Marcha a Caracas of the composer Tiero Pezzuti de Matteis with the lyrics of José Enrique Sarabia, according to the agreement approved by the City council in March 28, 1984, score and lyrics were added like integral part of this decree. The lyric is inspired by the heroism of the Caracas people, and the memory of the city of Red Roofs.
Law and government
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Caracas has five municipalities: Baruta, El Hatillo, Chacao, Libertador and Sucre. In March 8, 2000, the year after a new constitution was introduced in Venezuela, it was decreed in Gaceta Oficial N° 36,906 that the Metropolitan District of Caracas would be created, and that some of the powers of these municipalities would be delegated to the Alcaldía Mayor, physically located in Libertador municipality.
Geography
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Caracas is located in a valley, urban development in the last century has expanded to the adjacents mountains. The main water body of Caracas is the Guaire river, which flows across the city. In the north side of the city is located the mountain Cerro El Ávila.
Economy
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Caracas as the capital of Venezuela, host numerous companies of services, banks, malls, among others. Its activity is in almost 100% of services, excepting some industries established in its metropolitan area, this city also host the Caracas Stock Exchange, that requests the operations of the purchase and authorizes the sale of the instruments for its negotiation in the stock-market. Also host Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) that is the main company of the country, that negotiates all the international agreements for the distribution and export of petroleum towards other countries.
Demographics
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The population of Caracas is of 3,276,000 inhabitants. Caracas has received immigration from many places around the world, specially from Europe and nearby countries such as Colombia.
Sites of interest
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Ciudad Universitaria
The main campus of the Central University of Venezuela, designed by the renowned architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva and declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 2000 is considered to be a masterwork of Modern Architecture and Art. Over 28 artists from the Modern Avant-garde participated in the project. Among them Hans Arp, Alexander Calder, Fernand Léger, Victor Vasarely with the Venezuelans Francisco Narváez, Alejandro Otero and Oswaldo Vigas.
Capitolio Federal
The Capitolio Federal occupies an entire city block, and, with its golden domes and neoclassical pediments, can seem even bigger. The building was commissioned by Antonio Guzmán Blanco in the 1870s, and is most famous for its Salón Elíptico, an oval hall with a mural-covered dome and walls lined with portraits of the country's great and good.
Visit on Independence Day and you'll catch a glimpse of the original Act of Independence of 1811, installed inside a pedestal topped by a bust of Bolívar and displayed only on this most auspicious of public days. The halls surrounding the salon are daubed with battle scenes commemorating Venezuela's fight for independence.
Parque del Este
Designed by Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx. A green paradise in the middle of the city, where diverse activities can be done. A park where typical animals can be seen in a little zoo. A replica of the famous ship led by Christopher Columbus, la Santa Maria, is in the southern part of the park.
Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex
The Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex (Complejo Cultural Teresa Carreño), or more commonly the Teresa Carreño Theater (Teatro Teresa Carreño), is one of the most important Theaters of Caracas and Venezuela, where symphonic and popular concerts imagine frequently, operas, ballet and theater. It is located near the Seat of the museums, the Caobos Park and the Athenian of Caracas,in the cultural zone of the city. It is divided in two rooms: Jose Felix Ribas and Ríos Reyna. He is constructed on a land of 22 thousand square meters. The theater was thus called in honor to the pianist Teresa Carreño.
Casa Natal de Bolívar
Skyscrapers may loom overhead, but there's more than a hint of original colonial flavor in this neatly proportioned reconstruction of the house where Simón Bolívar was born on July 24, 1783. The museum's exhibits include period weapons, banners and uniforms.
Much of the original colonial interior has been replaced by monumental paintings of battle scenes, but more personal relics can be seen in the nearby Museo Bolivariano. Pride of place goes to the coffin in which Bolívar's remains were brought from Colombia; his ashes now rest in the National Pantheon.
Bolívar's funeral was held 12 years after his death at the Iglesia de San Francisco, just a few blocks west, and it was also here that he was proclaimed 'El Libertador' in 1813. The church dazzles the eye with its richly gilded baroque altarpieces, and still retains much of its original colonial interior, despite being given a modernizing once-over by Guzmán Blanco.
Museo de Arte Colonial
The gardens that surround this museum are almost as enticing as its interior. The museum is housed in a gorgeous colonial country mansion known as Quinta Anauco, which is surrounded by beautiful greenery. Inside the house you'll find meticulously restored rooms, filled with carefully selected works of art, furniture and period household and many other historical artifacts.
The quinta was well outside the historic town when it was built back in 1797, but today it's an oasis in the inner suburb of San Bernardino. Head there late on a Sunday morning and you might catch a chamber music concert in rooms which were once the house stables
Panteón Nacional
Venezuela's most venerated building is five blocks north of Plaza Bolívar, on the northern edge of the old town. Formerly a church, the building was given its new purpose as the final resting place for eminent Venezuelans by Antonio Guzmán Blanco in 1874. The entire central nave is dedicated to Bolívar, with the altar's place taken by the hero's bronze sarcophagus, while lesser luminaries are relegated to the aisles. The national pantheon's vault is covered with 1930s paintings depicting scenes from Bolívar's life, and the huge crystal chandelier glittering overhead was installed in 1883 on the centennial of his birth. It's worth hanging around to catch the ceremonial changing of the guard, held several times a day.
Parque Central
At a short saunter east of Plaza Bolívar is Parque Central, a concrete complex of five high-rise residential slabs of somewhat apocalyptic-appearing architecture, crowned by two 53-storey octagonal towers while one of them is currently going under major repairs due to the fire which burned the building on October 17, 2004.
Parque Central is Caracas' art and culture hub, loaded with museums, cinemas, the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex, and the Caracas Athenaeum, home to the esteemed Rajatabla theatre company. The Mirador de la Torre Oeste, on the 52nd floor, gives a 360° bird's-eye view of the city.
Plaza Bolívar
Leafy Plaza Bolívar is the focus of the old town with the inevitable monument to El Libertador, Simon Bolívar, at its heart. Modern high-rise buildings have overpowered much of the colonial flavor of Caracas' founding neighborhood. But the lively area still boasts some important sites.
The Museo Caracas on the ground floor highlights local history, and has some great models of the city as it appeared in the early 19th century and 1930s. To grasp just how much this city has grown, take a look at the map dating from 1578 in the building's central courtyard.
El Hatillo
El Hatillo is a colonial town located at the south-east suburbs of Caracas in the municipal area of the same name. This small town, which is one of Venezuela's few well-preserved typical colonial areas, gives an idea of what Caracas was like in centuries past. Just like every town in Venezuela, El Hatillo has its own Plaza Bolívar with El Libertador's statue in the middle. It also has a well preserved Catholic Church, and many colonial houses. Even the municipal government, banks, and bookshops in this neighborhood keep the colonial look, with tall windows, floor-to-top wood doors, and red tile roofs.
The actual colonial section of El Hatillo municipality represents only a small part of the total land size. Other parts of El Hatillo municipality are regular residential and commercial zones, including the neighborhoods of La Boyera, Oripoto, and La Lagunita.
Cerro El Ávila
Cerro El Ávila (Mountain El Ávila) (Wuaraira Repano), is a mountain in the mid-North of Venezuela, it rises next to Caracas and separates the city from the Caribbean Sea, is considered like the vegetal lung of Caracas, being one of the sites of reference of the city. In 1958 the mountain was declared National Park, with the name of El Ávila National Park.
Las Mercedes
For who wishes to know the most commercial and cosmopolitan district of Caracas, must visit Las Mercedes, this zone reunited some of the best restaurants of the city, that include the diverse gastronomical specialties, along with pleasant pubs, bars and pools. It is the favorite place of meeting of the Caracas youth, it has some of the most exclusive stores of the city, and important malls of Caracas.
Altamira neighborhood
Altamira is a neighborhood located in the Chacao municipality of Caracas, it has its own Metro Station, many hotels and restaurants, and is an important business center of the city, the Francisco de Miranda avenue (a major avenue in Caracas) and the Distibuidor Altamira (a congested highway exit) are both located in Altamira..
The Caracas Cathedral
The Cathedral is situated in one corner of the Plaza Bolívar and has fallen into ruin and been rebuilt several times since its foundation in 1594, The parents of Simón Bolívar are buried in the Cathedral, besides its hand carved altars, it possesses some magnificent works of art, a Resurrection by Rubens, the Presentation of the Virgin by Murillo, and the Last supper, and unfinished work by the Venezuelan painter Arturo Michelena.
Religious Buildings
- Catedral de Caracas
- Basílica Menor de Santa Capilla
- Sinagoga Tiferet Israel en Maripérez
- Mezquita Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim
- Iglesia San Francisco
- Iglesia Santa Rosalía de Palermo
- Basílica Santa Teresa
- Iglesia Rumana Ortodoxa de San Constantino y Santa Elena
- Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Altagracia
Seats and parks
- Plaza O’Leary
- Plaza Venezuela/ Paseo Colón
- Plaza Bolívar
- Plaza Francia
- Plaza La India
- Plaza de los Museos
- Plaza la Castellana
- Plaza Andres Eloy Blanco
- Plaza El Venezolano
- Parque del Este: Rómulo Betancourt
- Parque del Oeste: Jovito Villalba
- Parque Los Caobos
- Parque Los Chorros
- Parque Arístides Rojas
- Parque Vinicio Adames
- Parque ARUFLO
- Parque Cueva del Indio
- Parque Zoológico de Caricuao
- Parque Zoológico El Pinar
- Parque Manuel San
- Parque Maracaibo
- Parque Sanz
- Parque Zoológico de Contacto: “Expanzoo”
- Jardín Botánico de Caracas
- Jardines de las Universidades: Simón Bolívar y Central de Venezuela
- Paseo Los Próceres
- Paseo El Calvario
- Parque nacional El Ávila
- Cerro el Volcán
- Parque Nacional Macarao
- Zona de Protección del Litoral Central
- Zona de Protección del Área Metropolitana de Caracas
- Zona de Protección “El Algodonal”
Colleges and universities
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Caracas is home for some of the most prestigious universities in the country, including Universidad Central de Venezuela, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Universidad Metropolitana and several others.
Sports teams
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Most notably football and baseball teams are located in Caracas. Several other sports also have Caracas as their home.
Culture
Caracas is Venezuela's cultural capital, boasting several restaurants, theaters, museums, and shopping centers. The city is also home to an array of immigrants from but not limited to: Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Middle East, Germany, China, and Latin American countries.
Museums and theaters
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Notable natives
Caracas has been the birthplace of many politicians and artists that notably shaped the country's history and culture:
- Simón Bolívar
- Simón Rodríguez
- Andrés Bello
- Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
- Teresa Carreño
- Rómulo Gallegos
- Carlos Cruz-Díez
- Pedro Gual
- Antonio Guzmán Blanco
- Francisco de Miranda
- Armando Reverón
- Tito Salas
- Fermín Toro
- Martín Tovar y Tovar
- Arturo Uslar-Pietri
- José Ángel Lamas
Recreation
The city has two main football stadiums: The Olympic Stadium (35,000) and the Estadio Brígido Iriarte, with a capacity of 25,000 seats, which is home to the Caracas Fútbol Club and Italchacao). Baseball teams Tiburones de la Guaira and Leones del Caracas also play on their shared stadium Estadio Universitario (33,000 seats).
- Caracas hosted the 1983 Pan American Games
Transportation
- The Caracas metro has been in operation since 1983 and is the safest and quickest way to travel in the city, it is pride of Caracas by its functionality and cleaning. Account with four lines and more than 40 stations, it covers great part of the city, it has an integrated ticket system, that combines the route of the Metro with the offered by the Metrobús, a service of buses of the Caracas Metro, and that arrives at zones with the same quality and excellence. The Metro system works of 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Buses are the main means of mass transportation. There are two bus systems: the traditional system and the Metrobus. The traditional system runs a variety of bus types, operated by several companies on normal streets and avenues:
- bus; large buses.
- buseta; medium size buses.
- microbus or colectivo; vans or minivans.
- Nearby Maiquetia has Simón Bolívar International Airport.
Principal avenues
- Bolívar avenue (the longest avenue of Venezuela in straight line)
- Simón Bolívar avenue (southeast of the city)
- Universidad avenue
- Baralt avenue
- Sucre avenue
- Urdaneta avenue
- Andrés Bello avenue
- Lecuna avenue
- Panteón avenue
- Libertador avenue
- Francisco de Miranda avenue (the longest of Caracas)
- Páez avenue
- O'Higgins avenue
- San Martín avenue
- Teherán avenue
- Acacias avenue
- Las Palmas avenue
- Abraham Lincoln avenue (Boulevard of Sabana Grande)
- Francisco Solano avenue
- Casanova avenue
- Intercomunal avenue of El Valle
- Fuerzas Armadas avenue
- Nueva Granada avenue
- Presidente Medina avenue (also known like: Victoria avenue)
- Roosevelt avenue
- Principal avenue of El Cementerio
- Paseo Los Ilustres
- Las Acacias avenue
- Paseo Los Próceres
- Río de Janeiroa avenue
- Principal avenue of las Mercedes
- Venezuela avenue of El Rosal
- Tamanaco avenue
- Intercomunal Santa Mónica-Cumbres de Curumo avenue
- Boulevard of El Cafetal
- Sanz avenue
- Principal avenue of Caurimare
- 4ª avenue of los Palos Grandes
- San Juan Bosco avenue
- Luís Roche avenue
- Sucre avenue of los Dos Caminos
- Los Castaños avenue of los Chorros
- Rómulo Gallegos avenue
- Principal avenue of Macaracuay
- La Guairita avenue (Cemetery of th east)
Districts
| Caracas Districts | |
|---|---|
| Northwest | Catia • 23 de Enero • Propatria • Lomas de Urdaneta • Casalta El Atlántico • Caño Amarillo • Los Magallanes de Catia • Alta Vista • Ruperto Lugo • Lidice • Gramoven • Manicomio |
| Center | El Silencio • Capitolio • La Hoyada • Altagracia • La Pastora • Cotiza • Quita Crespo • Guaircaipuro • La Candelaria |
| Southwest | Artigas • Vista Alegre • Bella Vista • Colinas de Vista Alegre • La Yaguara • Zona Industrial de la Yaguara • El Algodonal • Carapa • Antimano • Washington • Las Fuentes • El Paraíso • El Pinar • La Paz • El Paraiso • Montalbán • Juan Pablo II • La Vega • Las Adjuntas • Caricuao • Mamera |
| Centereastern | El Conde • Parque Central • San Agustín del Sur • San Agustín del Norte • Simón Rodríguez • Mariperez •La Colina • Las Palmas • Las Lomas • San Rafael • Los Caobos • Quebrada Honda • San Bernardino • La Campiña • La Florida • Alta Florida • Chapellin • Los Cedros • El Bosque • Chacaito • Sabana Grande • Bello Monte |
| South | Cementerio • Los Carmenes • Los Castaños • Prado de Maria • La Bandera • Las Acacias • Colinas de las Acacias • Los Rosales • Valle Abajo • Los Chaguaramos • Ciudad Universitaria • Santa Mónica • Colinas de Santa Mónica • Colinas de Bello Monte • Cumbre de Curumo • El Valle • Los Jardines de El Valle • Coche • Delgado Chalbaud • La Rinconada |
| eastern | Country Club • El Pedregal • San Marino • Campo Alegre • Chacao • Bello Campo • El Rosal • El Retiro • Las Mercedes • Tamanaco • Chuao • Altamira • Los Palos Grandes • La Castellana • La Floresta • Santa Eduvigis • Sebucán • La Carlota • Santa Cecilia • Campo Claro • Los Ruices • Montecristio • Los Chorros • Los Dos Caminos; Boleita • Los Cortijos • La California • Horizonte • El Marques • La Urbina • El Llanito • Macaracuay • La Guairita • Caurimare • El Cafetal • San Román • Santa Rosa • San Luis • Santa Sofia • Santa Paula • Santa Inés • Los Pomelos • Palo Verde • Petare |
| Southeastern | Valle Arriba • Santa Fe • Los Campitos • Prados del Este • Alto Prado • El Peñon • Baruta • Piedra Azul • La Trinidad • La Tahona • Monterrey • Las Minas • Cerro Verde • Los Naranjos • La Boyera • Alto Hatillo • El Hatillo • Los Geranios • La Lagunita • El Placer • El Guayabao • El Volcán • La Unión • Sartanejas • |
Panorama
References
See also
External links
- Template:Es icon Caracas Virtual - Informative portal of the city.
- Caracas Brief Information Travel Guide
- Caracas Lions Baseball Club
- Caracas News from World News
- Caracas Stock Exchange
- Lonely Planet - Caracas
- Maiquetia Airport (serves Caracas)
- Novolari's Caracas Tourism Site
- VenezuelaTuya's Caracas Tourism Site
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