Venezuela, Caracas – A City on the Caribbean I

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We are interested in what the country can offer to us. We start in its very capital, Caracas.

We find the city on the north of the country by the sea. It is separated by it, however, by high mountain range of Cerro El Avila. The mountain range is a part of a national park of the same name. It has very diversified fauna and flora. You can find there more than one hundred kinds of butterflies, 120 mammal species, or 500 species of birds. But lets get back to the city.

In addition to this, more than 5 million people live in Caracas. What makes the city infamous is its criminality. Caracas is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. As in the case of Mexico City we recommend you to read instruction of the ministry of foreign affairs first..

Caracas boasts itself with cultural scene. Its foremost example is Teresa Carreño theatre. It is one of the most important in Latin America let alone inVenezuela. The theatre is located in the heart of the city and neighbors larg park of Los Caobos. The whole area of the theatre is 80 thousand square meters. The construction started in 1973. Ten years later the theater was opened to the public. Its main hall of Sala Ríos Reyna. 45 meters long and 40 meters wide the hall contains 2500 viewers. El Coro de Ópera Teresa Carreño and Ballet Terasa Carreño resides in the theatre. 

Another important theater there is Teatro Municipal de Caracas that had been holding primacy in Caracasu until Teresa Carreño was opened. Teatro Municipal was opened in 1881. The very first performance took place there was Guiseppe Verdi’s opera Il Trovatore. Until 1967, mostly operas were played there. It changed, today many cultural performances are being held there.

Should you reach the historic center of Caracas, you can get off at Capitolio subway station. When you get out, the first building you see is Palacio Federal Legislativo commonly referred to as Capitolio. The most competent architects of the era designed the building. You can spot it easily as it has a distinct golden dome. The building was opened in 1877. Its façade has bas-reliefs depicting the most important Venezuelan figures - Simon Bolívar and Antonio Guzmán Blanco. The building is opened on weekends between 10-14.

GPS: 10°28'22.4"N 66°53'50.8"W

Text: Maxim Kucer

Photo: Pixabay.com, Wikipedia.org - Danielbisogno, Jfreyre, Tata2005, Luiscaraqueño, PAULINOMORAN, Wilfredor