The earth of the Sun loved (Maracaibo)

The city of Maracaibo, (at some time so called New Zamora of the Lagoon of Maracaibo), is the capital of the State Zulia (Venezuela) and of the Municipality Maracaibo. There possesses an approximate population of 2.6 million inhabitants, turning, thereby, into the second city with more population into the whole Venezuela and the most extensive city of the country. Located in the west of the country, in areas of alluvial origin inside the depression of the Lake of Maracaibo in the shore northwest of the same one.

The foundation of Maracaibo has been subject to historical differences originated in the fact that there were different the prominent figures and moments in which one tried to construct a real accession.

The first European approximation to this zone Alonso de Ojeda realized it, on August 24, 1499 who discovered the Lake of Maracaibo, together with Juan de la Cosa and Américo Vespucio.

The name of Venezuela assumes to them when they evoked the small Venice on having seen that the inhabitants were living in palafittes on the Lake and that the people were moving from a site(place) to other one by means of small bridges of wood and in canoes.

The city of Maracaibo was founded in three occasions. The first one, on September 8, 1529 for the German Ambrosio Alfinger, conqueror of the house Welser and the first governor of the Province of Venezuela, who divided in expedition from cardinal Choir in that moment of the above mentioned province. To the city the name of Villa Maracaibo

After the second unsuccessful(bankrupt) attempt in the year 1569 in which the city Rodrigo is re-founded as City on the part of the captain Alonso Pacheco, it(he,she) is not but in 1573 that the Governor Diego de Mazariegos decided to restore the population entrusting the above mentioned commission to the captain Pedro Maldonado. This way for 1574 the city was re-founded by the name of New Zamora of the Lagoon of MaracaiboMaracaibo is a very interesting city where the modernism and the tradition are mixed. The central hull, you support his houses of alive colors and his historical constructions that now can be comfortably visited from tourist streetcar.

Monumental bullring of Maracaibo

The Monumental bullring of Maracaibo Is a work constructed in the armed concrete, of three floors of height, which possesses an appraisal of more than 17.000 persons, constructed in 1966.

Here there are realized events, bullfights, concerts and another type of multitudinous events.

In his interior a bullfighting museum and a chapel exists also

·         Address: Prolongation Surrounding Not. 2 with Av. 16 Guajira route The Moján Parroquia Idelfonso Vásquez Maracaibo

·         Telephone: +58 (261) 7191489

·         Distance up to public transport: Airport 20 KM

·         Center of the city 0-1 KM

Bolivar Square

Plaza Bolívar is located near the 95th Street, Venezuela, between 4 and 5 Avenues.

The plaza was the core foundation of the old colonial city and was formerly known as Plaza Mayor de San Sebastian de la Concorde.

Today is dedicated to the figure of Simón Bolívar, finding the center of the square an equestrian statue of the Liberator, and in each of the four corners of the square a sculpture of a nymph, symbolizing each trade, marine, art and industry.
The Bolivar square is placed close to the street 95, Venezuela, between the Avenue 4 and 5.


In the square we find the headquarters buildings of the municipal authorities, regional and ecclesiastical.

·         Address: Plaza Bolivar Maracaibo

·         Phone: +58 (261) 7186013

·         Distance to public transportation: Airport 18 KM

·         City Center 0-1 KM 

Planetary Simón Bolívar

The planetary Simón Bolívar is the second one in importance in his kind in the whole Latin America. 

He is placed in the metropolitan park of the Peonies.

 

It possesses a great room of stellar projection, a telescope, an area of  museum, and is surrounded with extensive green spaces. Also it possesses infantile games, a mini aquarium, a tower viewing-point, and other attractions.

 

Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

·         Address: Ctra. to The Moján km 12 Maracaibo

·         Telephone: +58 (261) 7186076

·         Distance up to public transport: Highway 2 KM

·         public Transport 0-1 KM

Carabobo Street

In the street Carabobo, placed in the center of Maracaibo, it is possible to observe the typical and traditional architecture of the zone, with multicolored houses with vestibules, walls with gargoyles, large windows and balusters.

In the same one restaurants exist where to taste typical food and tend where to find typical products of the Venezuelan gastronomy, as well as objects of crafts.

 

There is declared historical national monument.

·         Address: Street Carabobo Maracaibo

·         Telephone: +58 (261) 7186013

·         Distance up to public transport: Airport 17 KM

·         Center of the city 0-1 KM

Museum of Contemporary Art of the Zulia – Maczul

Museum of Contemporary Art of the Zulia, known as MacZul, possesses(relies on) 5000 square meters of explanatory surface in which exhibitions and events are celebrated museísticos related by the contemporary art. It is orientated fundamentally to the promotion and development of the art of the region of Zulia, the Venezuelan and the Latin-American one, being divided his collection according to these three divisions:

 

Collection National

Zuliana Collection

Latin-American Collection

 

Temporary exhibitions are realized in addition.

 

It can be visited every day from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm.

·         Direction(Address): Agreed University with Prolongation Cecilio Acosta Maracaibo

·          Telephone: +58 (261) 7594866

·         Fax: +58 (261) 7593766

·         Distance up to public transport: Airport 20 KM

Center of the city 0-1 KM

Park Path of the Lake

The Path of the Lake is a great park and green space placed close to the bank of the Lake Maracaibo, the major lake of sweet water of South America.

 

In we find extensive green spaces covering near 65 hectares, as well as several sports facilities, a zoo, infantile games, kiosks, etc.

 

·         Direction(Address): Av. The Miracle

·         Telephone: +58 (261) 7186013

·         Distance up to public transport: Airport 21 KM

·         Center of the city 0-1 KM