City Overview

Founded in 1567 by Diego de Losada, it is only in the past 150 years that the capital of Venezuela has become an important city in Venezuela. For centuries, this city was just a small unimportant town, subject to frequent floods and pirate raids. Today Caracas is a booming city of nearly 2 million inhabitants, boasting some of the most impressive modern architecture in South America, plus a thriving cultural and art scene.

The city is home to numerous fine art museums and galleries, including the MACCSI (Sofia Imber Museum of Contemporary Art), considered as one of the finest museums in Latin America. The museum has an extensive collection of modern Venezuelan art, as well works by Matisse, Chagall and Picasso.

Places of interest within the city include Santa Capilla, a 19th-century neo-Gothic church constructed in the style of Paris' Sainte Chapelle cathedral, the birthplace of Simón Bolívar, the Casa Natal de Bolívar; and the mighty Palacio de Miraflores, palace of former leader Joaquín Crespo. While these places are all wonderful, the true charm and feeling of the city is provided by its inhabitants, who are known as Caraqueños. Caraqueños are a diverse, young, and very lively group of people that color the streets of Caracas with unrestrained enthusiasm, laughter, and music. They are a sophisticated bunch of people as well. This means you can find an extensive array of boutiques, cafes, and numerous fine restaurants. One other thing stands out about Caraqueños, their hospitality.

We are sure that Caracas will prove to be as delightful as it is overwhelming, and full of pleasant surprises.

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