Sanare, Venezuela

Seat of government of the Andrés Eloy Blanco municipality, Lara State, Venezuela. The municipality is further subdivided into three parishes: (1)Pio Tamayo, with Sanare as the main city,(2)Yacambú and (3) La Quebrada Honda del Guache.

Sanare was founded in 1620 by the friar Dominico Melchor Ponce de Leon following the orders of the governor Don Francisco de la Hoz Berrio.

Climate: Sub-humid for most of the area. Rainfall of 1,680mm annually. Average yearly temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. 1,357 meters elevation above sea level.

Demographics: Population of 39,052 inhabitants, with a density of 55.90 inhabitants/km². Approximately 45.9% of the populace is less than 15 years old.

Economy: Sanare's economy is driven by agriculture. The most significant crop is coffee. Other crops include potatoes, black beans, corn, and strawberries.

MUNICIPIO ANDRÉS ELOY BLANCO (Partly Translated from Enciclopedia Lara Interactiva, El Impulso)

Places of Interest:

Sanare: Sanare is known as a cornerstone of tourism in Venezuela, the garden of Lara State, a city of romatic willows, and the portal to the Venezuelan Andes. Sanare offers beautiful alpine sights and healthy outdoor activities to enjoy as a retreat from busy city life. Getting to know Sanare you will understand farming techniques and the benefits of coffee, planting and harvesting of organic potatoes, techniques for using mud and clay in rustic pottery. Sanare's main attractions are the abundant green mountain landscapes and natural wonders.

Downtown Sanare: First in line is the Santa Ana church, adorned with exotic hardwoods altars, and hosting the "retablo de Santa Ana" dating from Sanare's foundation, the "retablo de los Saragoza de Sanare" and the statue relics of the Coromoto Virgin, the only one known to exist in Venezuela. The "Plaza Bolivar" houses a Simon Bolivar commemorative bust over 100 years old. Across the Santa Ana church there is a monument to Venezuela's flag and cote of arms as well as the folkloric and cultural amphitheater "Simon Bolivar." Northbound, following the Miranda street, we find the school of music "Daniel Ortiz," specially built for music training and housing a beautiful grand piano.

Recreational Park "Andrés Eloy Blanco": East bound from either the José Elías Silva or Páez streets the path leads to Lara street, location of the recreational park "Andrés Eloy Blanco", the Cultural House "José Nemesio Godoy" and the childcare center "Tony Bustamante". Furthermore, Sanare hosts a variety of artisan ceramic and carved stone shops.

Touristic quarters "El Cerrito": Built as result of a massive reconstruction of a hamlet rich in colonial architecture. To get there, head east from the Plaza Bolivar via Sucre or Providencia streets. These quarters host the turistic hostel "El Cerrito" and the "Casa La Providencia," a worthwhile stop to check out the ceramic shop, museum, mystery room, and the colonial gardens housing fruit orchards and one artesian well.

Sanare's Volcano o fumarole: This geological feature is located northeast of town. To get there, drive your vehicle via El Estadio(soccer field),downhill until reaching the "El Estadio" peak. From then, it is a two-hour uphill hike through thick tropical jungle.

National Park "Yacambú": Leaving Sanare on the road towards El Tocuyo, make a left turn at "Los Tubones" and you will reach the Hotel "Los Sauces." Continue the drive uphill torwards "Mortero" and you are on your way to the national park "Yacambú." On the way, one can stop at the picnic area "El Bosquecito Municipal." Southward at the cross roads in the Bosquecito, we reach the "Páramo de La Angostura" or the migrating bird's pass. Continuing on this road are the country villages of San Carlos and Caspo-Caspito, adequate places for nice cold sodas and riverside water fun. To head to the "Blanquito" picnic area, turn back on the Angostura Chapel at the cross roads and head northeast. A few kilometers away one arrives to the "Alto del Viento" (windy hilltop) landmarked by a wooden cabin (Casa De Tablas). Straight ahead is the via to “El Blanquito,” a small fun picnic area with access to mountain streams, rustic gazebos, benches, wild trails, and barbeque pits. Close by is the Moreco Lagoon (Laguna de Moreco) with an abundance of wild, vibrant flora and fauna. This is the heart of the national park. In the lagoon one can find specimens of planarias, a fresh water flatworm capable of regenerating lost parts. Down the road past the Blanquito, is the Yacambú dam, a project that will supply Quibor and Barquisimeto with water via gravity feed using a 23KM tunnel.

Yay and its legendary "Hundición": Arriving Sanare from Quibor, at the first church or plaza de San Isidro, make a right turn and head east on the road to Loma Curigua. At the first cross-roads on Loma Curigua is the rustic ceramic shop of doña Teodora Torrealba, one of the most prominent artisans in the area. If you are interested in exploring Loma Curigua or the Manga de Coleo (Bull Tosssing Rodeo) head north. Otherwise, head south towards the small hamlet of Yay (pronounced jaee). Once in town, a visit to the Colonial Chapel is in order to gaze at traditional Spanish-colonial religious artifacts. Yay is known for producing colonial anise-flavored sweet breads called “acemitas” and rustic pottery. Cantalicia Silva was known as one of the best artisan acemita bakers in the area. A couple of kilometers past Yay is the picturesque Hundición. This geological feature resembles a scaled down version of the dessert canyons in the western United States and is home to diverse species of wild birds and other native animals.