Caracas Guide » More About Caracas: Overview

Overview

Subtropical. Vibrant. Busy. Exotic. There's no shortage of adjectives for this intoxicating South American capital, which rests on the southern shore of the Caribbean. A contemporary metropolis that saw its biggest growth spurt during the oil boom of the 1970s, Caracas is a place where concrete, glass and steel towers thrust skyward, casting eerie shadows over the shantytowns that sprawl across surrounding hillsides. Indeed, Venezuela's capital is the consummate big city, featuring an international flair for theater, museums, dining and fine hotels. Yes, "la capital" knows how to live, and it's common practice for well-to-do locals to follow dinner at a place like Lasserre (a Francophile's delight with one of the city's finest wine cellars) with a late show at one of the fashionable concert halls in Bellas Artes, the cultural district. Younger crowds, though, tend to opt for the all-night party scene at Las Mercedes, a trendy district featuring a cornucopia of fast food joints, sidewalk caf�s, discoth�ques, and almost-daily outdoor concerts � just be sure to rest up, since things don't tend to get really pumping until after midnight. Sightseers will want to visit places like the Catedral Metropolitana, whose original facade has been unaltered since its construction in the mid 17th century; the 16th century Iglesia de San Francisco, one of the city's few remaining examples of Colonial architecture; Plaza Bol�var, the center of the historic district and site of a statue erected in honor of General Bol�var, known to Venezuelans as "El Liberator;" and Parque Nacional el �vila, a mountain park to the north that offers a network of challenging hiking trails and spectacular vistas of the sea. While Caracas's contemporary shopping centers, most of them dating from the 70s' heyday, feature a variety of leather shops and high-end boutiques, visitors should have at least one go at a street market, where haggling is a respected art form.

Overview

Attractions & Activities in Caracas

Attractions & Activities in Caracas

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