Caracas City Map – Capital of Venezuela

Caracas City, known as Santiago de Leon de Caracas, is the bustling and spread-out capital of Venezuela, basking in a scenic valley of the Venezuelan coast mountain system. The city is situated at a height of approximately 900 meters (3,000 feet), well shielded by the Caribbean Sea, yet the mountainous landscape creates a fine, eternal spring climate.

Inaugurated in 1567, Caracas places in the history of South America the primordial place of Simon Bolivar, "The Liberator." It turned out to be more than a colonial station to the political, culture, and economical center of the nation. The architecture of this city is an intriguing contrast of the modern tall horses, which is a by-product of the oil boom, and architectural monuments and structures such as the Plaza Bolivar and the National Pantheon. Being the center of Venezuelan life, Caracas is actively known by its vibrant culture and art scene, as well as the variety of gastronomy including one of the most known and famous dishes, the arepa. Regardless of the situations that prevail at present, the inimitable spirit of inspiration and singular beauty of the City of Eternal Spring cannot be neglected.

History

Prior to the coming of Europeans, the valley that houses Caracas is the place where other native tribes used to reside with a major tribe, the Tribes that gave the city its current name, being the Caracas people. The fertile soil and good climate in the valley prevents the Spanish people from settling permanently because of strong opposition, witnessed by caciques such as Guaicaipuro.

The final day of the city was officially begun in 1567 when the Spanish traveler Diego de Losoda led the naming of the city Santiago de Leon de Caracas. Its geographical positioning, which maintained it unnoticed by pirates, as its distance is interred by an abrupt mountainous place dimmed the pirate attacks experienced in the coastal areas, thus rendering it to evolve into a significant administrative and economic hub. Agriculture, especially the high-priced cacao bean, was the foundation of the colonial economy being transported to other destinations of the world. Towards the 18 th century the capital of the Captaincy general of Venezuela was Caracas.

The city of Caracas became the Cradle of Independence of the South American region during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The city was led by the elite, who were tired of being ruled by the Spaniards and fed by the Enlightenment ideas. It gave birth here in 1783 to the most known son of Caracas, Simau Bolivar.

This ended on April 19, 1810, after the Spanish governor was overthrown by the local junta, the first move towards self-governance. Venezuela received its independence on July 5, 1811. Nevertheless, it was not at a cheap price. The city was almost destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1812 which some people viewed as God chastising the revolution. Caracas had been the battleground during much of the Venezuelan war of independence, and only became the capital of the fledgling independent state in 1821.

During the entire 19th and early 20th century, Caracas was a fairly small city that had a colonial atmosphere. This all took a different turn as huge deposits of oil were discovered in Venezuela. Oil revenues began dripping into the capital in the 1920s, the result of which led to an unprecedented period of modernization, construction, and growth.

The city was fast changing, losing most of its colonial developments that gave way to the modernistic and brutalist tall buildings, huge highways, and social amenities. During this time, some of the greatest monuments in Latin America, such as the Central University of Venezuela (UNESCO World Heritage site) and the twin towers of the Parque Central complex, were built. This wealth inflow also stimulated large internal migration to the metropolis; and large European immigration (most notably Spain, Italy and Portugal) transformed Caracas into a cosmopolitan and busy metropolis - dubbed by some as the Sultan of the Caribbean.

Severe social inequality alongside the economic boom was never in short supply. The high rate of unrestrained expansion resulted in the spread of sprawling shantytowns or barrios upon the adjacent hillsides. Starting in the late 1980s as well as exacerbated in the 21st century, political and economic crises including hyperinflation, a shortage, and societal violence, have shockwaved the city. Caracas is now confronted with a multifaceted problem of coping with a significant humanitarian crisis at a time when it is incapable of sustaining its infrastructure and the cultural richness that has characterized its ancient history.

Culture

The principal cultural capital of the country is Caracas, whose institutions are of world standards. The Oberon of Brutalists buildings includes the Teresa Carreno Cultural Complex, the country's most significant performing arts center featuring opera, ballet, and concerts. The other architectural jewel in the crown of the country is the University City of Caracas, another UNESCO World Heritage site, is also a brilliant blend of modern architecture together with the visual arts, with works by Alexander Calder. The city also hosts fine arts, including such institutions as the Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Art Gallery.

To the Caraqueno the music plays a crucial role. Though folk music such as national dance, the Joropo is located in the plains, Caracas is the capital of classical music and contemporary music. It is the foundation of the famous El Sistema (The National System of Youth and Children Orchestras of Venezuela). The underground life in the city also is very active, allowing modern club and electronic, rap, and experimental performers, who have roots in Latino Venezuelan music, to triumph on the global stage.

The enigmatic landscape is also one of its immigrant ancestry, with a refined blend of customary Venezuelan society, such as the Arepa or Pabellon Criollo, and some internationally-acclaimed restaurants serving Mediterranean tastes and other European dishes. The residents of Caracas (Caraquenos) are socially well-enchanted with their friendliness and hospitable nature. Family relationships are intense and socialization can be characterized by such a Latin American formality that breaks almost immediately into excessive friendliness.

Although certain major national holidays, such as Carnival, are celebrated more ardently in coastal towns, the capital of Caracas celebrates all major holidays in its own specific urban style. They have various processesions on religious holidays, particularly Semana Santa (Holy Week), and the New Year celebration in the capital has certain traditions: every New Year the Cathedral bells are rung, or the Caracas Boys orchestra of singing boys plays their famous songs. It is this combination of the historic past, modernity in art, and the social fervor of staying power that delineates the distinctive, thriving culture of the city of Caracas.

Language

Spanish is the official language of the country spoken in Caracas, and the rest of Venezuela. The Spanish in Capital, commonly also known as espanol venezolano or caraqueno, is studied by a peculiar rhythm and lexicon. Although relatively simple and easily comprehensible to other speakers of the Spanish language, it consists of local slang (modismos) and uses a high rate of speech.

The Linguistic landscape of Caracas is as direct a result of the historical oil boom as the city is a migration magnet. Masses of Europeans, especially from Italy and Portugal, moved to the city and although the second and third generations speak mainly Spanish, remnants of the two languages remain. In some of the intonations and words, which may be heard in some of the older neighbourhoods and business areas, Italian and Portuguese influences are sometimes evident.

Owing to its economic and diplomatic capital, English is also an extensively spoken language in tourist-oriented industries, including hotels, global enterprises, and even luxury restaurants. Nonetheless, tourists would not anticipate that English is widely spoken and that some basic understanding of Spanish will be invaluable in going about their day to day lives in other parts of the country. Caracanian language can therefore be described as a lively, expressive, and a bit speeded up version of the Spanish language that is ever-changing, but still solidly based on the multicultural nation.

Geography

Caracas has one of the most spectacular and characteristic geographies of any capital of a big South American country. It is situated in an absolutely isolated spot, surrounded by a comparatively small valley--the Caracas Valley--of the Venezuelan coast mountain system, the Cordillera de la Costa.

The city is located at an altitude of between 800 and 1000 meters above the sea level. This elevated area is attributed to its boastfully mild climate that avoids the blazing heat and dampness of the coast only a few miles to the east. On every side, the city is sternly surrounded by mountainous walls that severely limit its expansion.

In the North, the most conspicuous landscape object is the sheer, massive mountain barrier of the Cerro El Avila, which is officially a part of the Avila National Park. This range then sharply climbs to altitudes of over 2,600 meters (8 500 feet) and serves as a kind of a natural barrier, dividing Caracas and the Caribbean Sea along with its principal port, La Guaira. The mountain is a vital part of the Caraqueno identity, as it exemplifies a leisure area, and it is a visual beacon that guides the city.

The river flow is the Guaire that flows through the center of the city in east-west direction and drains into the river Tuy. Although once of great historical importance, the Guaire is now extensively channelized and polluted as a result of years of vigorous urban growth.

Due to the shape of the valley the city has been predetermined toward an elongated and frequently overcrowded urban sprawl. The flatter valley floor comprises the central and eastern districts, with their grid system, whereas the poorer barrios (shantytowns) hold on elementary to the steep slopes and hillsides around the main city center. This physical division clearly indicates the social and economic division in the city. Geology is likely to be subject to seismic activities, which has traditionally affected the architecture of the city and town planning.

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