Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Airport (26km)
CARACAS METROPOLITAN AREA
LA PASTORA
N
Teleférico
Parque Nacional El Àvila
LOS PALOS
GRANDES
SAN BERNARDINO
LA FLORIDA
LA CASTELLANA
CENTRO
SEE 'SABANA GRANDE' MAP
ALTAMIRA
SABANA
GRANDE
SEE 'EL CENTRO/PARQUE CENTRAL' MAP
Parque
del Este
Jardin Botanico
EL ROSAL
LA CARLOTA
BELLO MONTE
Terminal
La Bandera
SEE 'EASTERN CARACAS' MAP
SANTA
MÓNICA
CHUAO
11
0
2
VALLE ARRIBA
kilometres
EL CAFETAL
around this area is best kept to daylight
hours as it has a reputation for street
crime after dark. Away from El Centro,
visitors can take in the gritty street life
of
Sabana Grande
, enjoy the business
end of town in
Altamira
, and immerse
themselves the restaurant and bar scene
around residential
Los Palos Grandes
.
Slow the pace slightly with a trip to the
arty suburb of
El Hatillo
, or treat your
lungs to some fresh air with an excursion
to
Parque Nacional El Ávila
.
Museo Bolivariano and around
If you're interested in learning more
about the man who lends his name to
seemingly every aspect of Venezuelan life,
the
Museo Bolivariano
(Mon-Fri
9am-4.30pm, Sat & Sun 10am-4pm;
free) has its entrance on the western side
of Plaza Venezolano, one block southeast
of the Plaza Bolívar. It contains portraits
of El Libertador and his family, carefully
preserved relics from his life, and gangs
of children on school trips. Next door
is the painstakingly reconstructed
Casa Natal
(Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat &
Sun 10am-3.30pm; free), where Bolívar
was born and lived until the age of nine.
There are portraits and some original
furniture, but little in the way of
explanation. At his final resting place,
the
Panteón Nacional
,
five blocks north
of Plaza Bolívar, soldiers stand guard over
Bolívar's tomb.
he
Iglesia de San Francisco
, on the
south side of Avenida Universidad,
is one of Venezuela's oldest churches.
Its principal claim to fame is as the
place where Bolívar was proclaimed
“El Libertador” in 1813.
Plaza Bolívar
As with all Venezuelan towns, the
Plaza
Bolívar
is the main square, and Caracas's
version, a leafy hub northeast of the
Capitolio/El Silencio metro station, is
a good starting spot for a walking tour.
The south side of the square features the
Consejo Municipal
(City Hall), which
doubles as the
Museo Caracas
(Tues-Sat
9am-4pm; free), containing artefacts
from the city's history as well as seasonal
art exhibitions.
Built in 1575, the colonial-style
Catedral de Caracas
on the east side of
the plaza houses Bolívar's parents and
wife, who are buried in a chapel on
the right-hand side. Next door at the
Museo Sacro de Caracas
(Mon-Sat
9am-4pm; BsF15;
T
0212 861 6562)
you'll find a greater collection of artwork
with summaries in English. The serene
Café del Sacro
(see p.872) inside is well
worth a visit.
Parque Central
Not really a park,
Parque Central
is a long
concrete strip filled with vendors selling
pirated CDs, DVDs, video games,
jewellery and miracle herbs. More
importantly, the district is the city's
cultural hub, and home to Caracas's best
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