Search Results - Caracas
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Caracas (pronounced [ka'?akas]) is the capital and largest city of Venezuela. It is located in the north of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range (Cordillera de la Costa). The valley's temperatures are springlike. Terrain suitable for building on lies between 760 and 910 m (2,500 and 3,000 ft) above sea level. The valley is close to the Caribbean Sea, separated from the coast by a steep 2200 m (7400 ft) high mountain range, Cerro Ávila; to the south there are more hills and mountains. More than five hundred years ago, the area was populated by indigenous peoples and Caracas did not exist. Francisco Fajardo, the son of a Spanish Captain and a Guaqueri queen, attempted to establish a plantation in the valley in 1562 after founding a series of coastal towns. Fajardo's settlement did not last as it was destroyed by the locals led by Terepaima and Guacaipuro. This was the last rebellion on the part of the natives, for on July 25, 1567, the Spanish captain Diego de Losada laid the foundations of the city of Santiago de León de Caracas. The cultivation of cocoa stimulated the development of the city which in 1777 became the capital of the capitanía general of Venezuela. 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 the Battle of Carabobo.[2] 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. During the 1950s, Caracas began an intensive modernization program which continued throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. The Universidad Central de Venezuela, designed by modernist architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva and now a UNESCO monument, was built. Joining El Silencio, also by Villanueva, several workers' (23 de Enero, Simon Rodriguez) and new middle class residential districts (Bello Monte, Los Palos Grandes, Chuao, Cafetal, etc.) sprouted in the valley, extending its limits towards the East and South East. On October 17, 2004, one of the Parque Central towers caught fire. The change in the economic structure of the country, now oil dependent, and the fast development of Caracas made it a magnet for the rural communities who migrated to the capital city in an unplanned fashion, creating the ranchos (slum) belt in the valley of Caracas.
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Showing 1 to 7 of 7 Articles matching 'Caracas' in related articles. |
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1. Advice on Buying Margarita Islands Property
August 06, 2007
You will arrive on the Margarita Islands either by charter flight from Europe or on a regular service via the Venezuelan capitol Caracas. Either way you will arrive upon a peaceful, tranquil island with prices considerably lower than on any of the more well known other Caribbean islands. Having found your ideal property there are a few factors that any prospective purchaser should bear in mind. As a foreigner, you will not be able to get financial help in the form of a mortgage to assist you with your purchase and in the few possibilities where it is possible (on certain developments in co... (read more)
Author: John Everitt
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2. Jaime Gili Biography and his Art work
May 16, 2007
Jaime Gili was born in Caracas (Venezuela) in 1972. He grew up in a multicultural capital full of vibrant optical art, a concrete city full of optimism. Caracas, in the late seventies, presented its own version of the International modernism movement in art and architecture. Its own take on Utopia, the look of the city being created by artists and architects working together towards a single vision underwritten by a strong oil economy.
In paintings such as Barbaro, Ochoa, and Trikalinou, Jaime Gili incites the austere purity of geometric design with the confidence and authenticity of pain... (read more)
Author: Sandeep Tyagi
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3. Things to See in Venezuela
December 16, 2006
If you are thinking of heading to South America, Venezuela is a country that should be on your list. Despite what you read in the media, there is little unrest and you should be fine as long as you use common sense.
Things to See in Venezuela
Visitors to Venezuela have an option of a calming resort experience, a cultural metropolis break in the cities or a more rural experience of just cruising around the country. Venezuela is bounded to the north by the Caribbean, to the east by Guyana and the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by Brazil, and to the west and southwest by Colombia.
... (read more)
Author: Rick Chapo
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4. Venezuela Food
March 13, 2006
Venezuelan food is known for its amazing variety. There is a distinct native Indian influence in Venezuelan food. Most visitors to Venezuela would have heard of the term "arepa", which is a sort of bread, prepared with corn flour. Arepa is a big industry in Venezuela and known for its great taste and nutritional value. Tequenos and cheese balls are also much sought after delicacies from Venezuela.Come Christmas Eve and, everywhere in Venezuela, a special food is cooked in literally every household. It is known as "hallaca". Hallaca is a sort of pie made up of corn-meal and usually stuffed with... (read more)
Author: Josh Riverside
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5. Venezuela Culture
March 13, 2006
Venezuela is known for its easy-going, fun-loving, good-natured natured people. The Venezuelan history dates back to early days when rugged settlers tamed the local populace of llanos. Most of the Venezuelans are descendants of a mix of Indian, African and European roots. A very small minority is fully white, black or Indian. Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion, though one can find ethnic religious groups amongst the Amerindians. The ancient population of Venezuela consisted of three main groups, the Carib, Arawak and the Chibcha. They were basically hunters and also practiced agricult... (read more)
Author: Josh Riverside
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6. Venezuela
March 13, 2006
Venezuela abounds with nature’s bounty. It has South America’s largest lake, the third longest river, and the highest waterfall in the world. Venezuela is home to some of the spectacular wildlife species you can see. Venezuela has jaguars, armadillos and the longest snake species in the world. Venezuela is a huge country with spectacular landscapes and great people. Speaking of the people, Venezuela has perhaps produced more beauty pageant winners than any other country.Venezuela has an interesting history. Venezuela was one of the three countries that emerged after the collapse of Colombia in... (read more)
Author: Josh Riverside
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7. Caracas Venezuela
March 13, 2006
Whether you are looking for places with historical significance, religious sites or just places to chill out, Caracas has them all and more. Caracas is the capital of Venezuela and offers its visitors a host of places to visit.Those who want to enjoy nature’s bounty can straight away head to the ‘Parque Nacional El Avila’, the national park. The park is situated in a hilly terrain and offers a spectacular view of the plains below. The park is also rich in its variety of flora and fauna. The climate here is mostly salubrious, in general, through the Venezuelan climate is notorious for its fickl... (read more)
Author: Josh Riverside
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