LA PAZ
La Paz is the de facto capital of Bolivia, despite Sucre being the country’s official capital since the 19th century. The seat of government and the main government buildings are located here. La Paz is the highest “capital” in the world. The city center lies at an altitude of 3650 meters above sea level, and not far away you can see the top of Mount Ilyimani with a height of 6402 m. La Paz was founded in the middle of the 16th century by the Spanish conquistadors. Murillo Square is the center of the Old Town of La Paz., where the Presidential Palace, the Parliament building and the Palace of Justice are located. Murillo Square is surrounded by old colonial-style mansions and numerous churches with carved facades. In this area, you should definitely visit the main city Cathedral, which was built in 1831 in the neoclassical style, the church of Santo Domingo (1609), the church of San Pedro and the palaces of the 18th century Dies de Medina and Villaverde.
According to Top-mba-universities, Bolivia.the wide avenue Prado is considered to be the center of the modern city. On both sides of it are high-rise buildings, cinemas, shops, hotels and restaurants. At the northern end of Prado Avenue is San Francisco Square., from where ethnic quarters inhabited by Indians climb up the slopes. On the square stands the Cathedral of Iglesia de San Francisco, adjacent to the Witches’ Market, where you can buy a variety of amulets and silver jewelry. South of San Francisco Square is Sagarnaga Street, where souvenir shops, cafes and tourist offices are located.
Of the city’s museums, it is worth noting the Costumbrista-Juan de Vargas Museum, which exhibits a collection of ceramic dolls in traditional costumes, the National Museum of Archeology with exhibits of ancient Indian cultures, the Museo del Oro with a collection of pre-Columbian items, the National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore, the Museum natural history and the Museum of National Art.
10 km from La Paz there is Moon Valley, which is a labyrinth of rocky towers and miniature canyons.
50 km west of the city is the Zongo Valley, famous for ice caves, at the bottom of which you can see lakes. In the valley, the Zongo Pass base camp was equipped, from where climbers go to Mount Huayana Potosi. The height of the mountain is 6088 m, and its flora and fauna are protected by the National Park of the same name. Also from La Paz, climbing to Mount Ilyimani (6402 m) and excursions along the routes to the city of Coroico, which pass through the mountainous region of Yungas, are arranged.
POTOSI
The town of Potosi is located 164 km from Sucre at an altitude of 4100 m above sea level. This is the highest city in the world. Potosí was founded in 1545 near an extensive silver deposit. In 1988, Potosi was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The main attractions of the city are concentrated around the Plaza de Armas. Here you can see the convent of San Francisco, where the Museum of Religious Art is now open; Art Museum; the Mint House of Casa de La Moneda, where today the National Museum operates with collections of products made of precious metals and a collection of works of religious art; Potosi Cathedral and numerous churches that were built in the 16th-18th centuries. From Potosi you can go on an excursion to one of the mines where silver is mined.
COCHABAMBA
Cochabamba is the third largest city in Bolivia. It is located 240 km southeast of La Paz. The city is surrounded by low mountains and is known for its pleasant climate. It is also called the “city of gardens”. The center of the city is September 14 Square, from which the main street departs – Avenue of Heroes – In the eastern part of the city, on a hill, there is a huge statue of Jesus, it is slightly taller than a similar statue in Rio de Janeiro.
SANTA CRUZ
The full name of the city of Santa Cruz is Santa Cruz de la Sierra. It was founded in 1560 in the eastern part of Bolivia, but was later moved 200 km west to the foothills of the Andes. The city is known for its mild climate.
The main attractions of Santa Cruz are September 24 Squarelocated on it Cathedral, where a museum with a collection of religious art is now open, the Museum of Natural History and the Zoo, which is considered one of the best in South America.
The trips from Santa Cruz to numerous Jesuit missions of the mid-17th and 18th centuries are very interesting. Among them are San Javier, San Ramon, San Miguel, San Ignacio de Velasco, Concepción, San Rafael, Santa Ana and San José de Chiictos. It is also worth going to the village of La Hiquera, where Ernesto Che Guevara was killed, and to the Amboro and Noel Camp Mercado National Parks.
