La Paz - 3618m a.s.l.
Is the administrative capital of Bolivia, while Sucre is the constitutional capital and the seat of the Supreme Court. La Paz was established in 1548, and is in the Andes. Altitude of the city ranges from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto (where the airport is located) to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. It is the highest national capital in the world. La Paz was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River (now mostly built over), which runs northwest to southeast. The city's main thoroughfare, which roughly follows the river, changes names over its length, but the central tree-lined section running through the downtown core is called the Prado. The satellite city of El Alto, in which the airport is located, is spread over a broad area to the west of the canyon, on the altiplano. La Ciudad de Nuestra Señora de la Paz – “The City of Our Lady of Peace” – was founded on October 20, 1548 on the orders of Pedro de la Gasca, the supreme representative of the Spanish Emperor in Peru, to commemorate the end of almost ten years of bitter civil war between rival Spanish factions fighting over the combined territories of Alto and Bajo Peru. Source: http://wikitravel.org - www.roughguides.com
Is the administrative capital of Bolivia, while Sucre is the constitutional capital and the seat of the Supreme Court. La Paz was established in 1548, and is in the Andes. Altitude of the city ranges from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto (where the airport is located) to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. It is the highest national capital in the world. La Paz was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River (now mostly built over), which runs northwest to southeast. The city's main thoroughfare, which roughly follows the river, changes names over its length, but the central tree-lined section running through the downtown core is called the Prado. The satellite city of El Alto, in which the airport is located, is spread over a broad area to the west of the canyon, on the altiplano. La Ciudad de Nuestra Señora de la Paz – “The City of Our Lady of Peace” – was founded on October 20, 1548 on the orders of Pedro de la Gasca, the supreme representative of the Spanish Emperor in Peru, to commemorate the end of almost ten years of bitter civil war between rival Spanish factions fighting over the combined territories of Alto and Bajo Peru. Source: http://wikitravel.org - www.roughguides.com
Plaza Murillo
Located in La Paz’s Casco Viejo, or old town, is a lively plaza framed by some of the city’s most important political buildings. Designed in 1558 by Juan Gutiérrez Paniagua, Plaza Murillo was named in honor of Bolivian hero Pedro Murillo, a signatory of the founding document of independence who was captured and hung by Spanish troops in 1810. During colonial times, Plaza Murillo was the scene of public life, surrounded by beautiful eucalyptus trees and featuring a grand statue of Neptune. The plaza was not only the central square to La Paz’s Spanish settlement, but was also the town’s main source of water, thus becoming the preferred place for people to meet. Plaza Murillo was also the scene of dramatic political battles, with many Independence leaders killed on or near the plaza. A recent example of this political violence was in 1946 when president Gualberto Villarroel was set upon by group of enraged rebels who threw him off a balcony and proceeded to hang him from a lamp-post in the plaza.
Surrounding Buildings
On one side of the plaza, is the impressive Cathedral, dating from 1835, on top of a steep hill with its main entrance sitting 12m higher than its base on Calle Potosi. Next to the cathedral is the colonial Government Palace, official residence of the President of Bolivia. Also known as Palacio Quemado (Burned Palace), the building is renowned for having the extreme misfortune of twice being gutted by fire. Opposite the building stands a statue dedicated to the ill-fated President Villarroe. Across from the cathedral is the Palacio de los Condes de Arana, a magnificent 18th century building now home to La Paz’s National Museum of Art. Facing the Government Palace and Cathedral is the 1911 Grand Hotel París, the first movie house in Bolivia. Across from the Palace is the National Congress of Bolivia, a versatile building which has previously been used as a jail, a university and a convent. In 1904 the building underwent a renovation to house Bolivia’s congress. Streets surrounding Plaza Murillo include Socabaya Street to the west, Ayacucho Street to the east, Comercio Street to the south, and a continuation of Ingavi and Ballivan Streets to the north. Source: www.lapazlife.com
Located in La Paz’s Casco Viejo, or old town, is a lively plaza framed by some of the city’s most important political buildings. Designed in 1558 by Juan Gutiérrez Paniagua, Plaza Murillo was named in honor of Bolivian hero Pedro Murillo, a signatory of the founding document of independence who was captured and hung by Spanish troops in 1810. During colonial times, Plaza Murillo was the scene of public life, surrounded by beautiful eucalyptus trees and featuring a grand statue of Neptune. The plaza was not only the central square to La Paz’s Spanish settlement, but was also the town’s main source of water, thus becoming the preferred place for people to meet. Plaza Murillo was also the scene of dramatic political battles, with many Independence leaders killed on or near the plaza. A recent example of this political violence was in 1946 when president Gualberto Villarroel was set upon by group of enraged rebels who threw him off a balcony and proceeded to hang him from a lamp-post in the plaza.
Surrounding Buildings
On one side of the plaza, is the impressive Cathedral, dating from 1835, on top of a steep hill with its main entrance sitting 12m higher than its base on Calle Potosi. Next to the cathedral is the colonial Government Palace, official residence of the President of Bolivia. Also known as Palacio Quemado (Burned Palace), the building is renowned for having the extreme misfortune of twice being gutted by fire. Opposite the building stands a statue dedicated to the ill-fated President Villarroe. Across from the cathedral is the Palacio de los Condes de Arana, a magnificent 18th century building now home to La Paz’s National Museum of Art. Facing the Government Palace and Cathedral is the 1911 Grand Hotel París, the first movie house in Bolivia. Across from the Palace is the National Congress of Bolivia, a versatile building which has previously been used as a jail, a university and a convent. In 1904 the building underwent a renovation to house Bolivia’s congress. Streets surrounding Plaza Murillo include Socabaya Street to the west, Ayacucho Street to the east, Comercio Street to the south, and a continuation of Ingavi and Ballivan Streets to the north. Source: www.lapazlife.com
The colonial city centre
The well-ordered streets of the colonial city centre still preserve the neat grid pattern laid out by the city founders in accordance with Spanish laws governing the foundation of settlements in the Indies. At its centre stands the Plaza Murillo, home to both the Palacio Presidential and the parliament building, the Palacio Legislativo. A fair number of colonial buildings still survive, though most are in a poor state of repair, their crumbling facades and dilapidated balconies obscured by tangled phone lines and electricity cables. The exceptions to this are concentrated on and around the Plaza Murillo and nearby calle Jaén, both of which are also home to several museums. Source: www.roughguides.com
The well-ordered streets of the colonial city centre still preserve the neat grid pattern laid out by the city founders in accordance with Spanish laws governing the foundation of settlements in the Indies. At its centre stands the Plaza Murillo, home to both the Palacio Presidential and the parliament building, the Palacio Legislativo. A fair number of colonial buildings still survive, though most are in a poor state of repair, their crumbling facades and dilapidated balconies obscured by tangled phone lines and electricity cables. The exceptions to this are concentrated on and around the Plaza Murillo and nearby calle Jaén, both of which are also home to several museums. Source: www.roughguides.com
San Francisco Church
The religious edifice standing today in Plaza San Francisco is not the original. Even before the founder of La Paz, Alonzo de Mendoza reached the valley in 1548, the Franciscans had already settled there. The chief of Quirquincha donated land on the former bank of the Choqueyapu river to the Franciscans, for construction of a church. This construction began in August 1549 and culminated in 1581. By 1612, this first church had collapsed due to extreme snowfall in the region and was left untouched until the 18th century. Between 1743 and 1744 the construction of the present church began and by 1753 was finished. San Francisco Church was popular with both the Spanish and the local Aymara people. However, because it was unthinkable for the Aymara and Spanish to mix, a separate entrance was built for the Spanish, accessible only from a bridge crossing the river. On April 23, 1758, San Francisco Church was consecrated and by 1790 the carved facade of the church was fully completed. It wasn’t until 1885 that the construction of the church’s single bell tower began. In 1948, the church was declared a minor basilica. Between 1965 and 2005, the church and convent were restored, and part of the convent was opened as a museum. San Francisco church is named after its founder, Francisco de los Angeles Morales, whose remains are entombed in the church. Source: www.lapazlife.com
The religious edifice standing today in Plaza San Francisco is not the original. Even before the founder of La Paz, Alonzo de Mendoza reached the valley in 1548, the Franciscans had already settled there. The chief of Quirquincha donated land on the former bank of the Choqueyapu river to the Franciscans, for construction of a church. This construction began in August 1549 and culminated in 1581. By 1612, this first church had collapsed due to extreme snowfall in the region and was left untouched until the 18th century. Between 1743 and 1744 the construction of the present church began and by 1753 was finished. San Francisco Church was popular with both the Spanish and the local Aymara people. However, because it was unthinkable for the Aymara and Spanish to mix, a separate entrance was built for the Spanish, accessible only from a bridge crossing the river. On April 23, 1758, San Francisco Church was consecrated and by 1790 the carved facade of the church was fully completed. It wasn’t until 1885 that the construction of the church’s single bell tower began. In 1948, the church was declared a minor basilica. Between 1965 and 2005, the church and convent were restored, and part of the convent was opened as a museum. San Francisco church is named after its founder, Francisco de los Angeles Morales, whose remains are entombed in the church. Source: www.lapazlife.com
Jaen Street (Calle Jaén)
Representing historic La Paz is a quaint, cobble-stoned street, home to a range of shops, bars and restaurants as well as five of La Paz’s most important and interesting museums. Visiting picturesque Jaen Street gives visitors a chance to enjoy a stroll through one of the city’s more tranquil and traffic-free lane-ways, and appreciate the colorful and historic remnants of a bygone era. Located near Plaza Murrilo, is one of La Paz’s most finely preserved colonial streets, featuring brightly plastered houses dating from the 18th century. Source: www.lapazlife.com
Representing historic La Paz is a quaint, cobble-stoned street, home to a range of shops, bars and restaurants as well as five of La Paz’s most important and interesting museums. Visiting picturesque Jaen Street gives visitors a chance to enjoy a stroll through one of the city’s more tranquil and traffic-free lane-ways, and appreciate the colorful and historic remnants of a bygone era. Located near Plaza Murrilo, is one of La Paz’s most finely preserved colonial streets, featuring brightly plastered houses dating from the 18th century. Source: www.lapazlife.com
Sagarnaga Street (Calle Sagarnaga)
One of La Paz’s most popular streets is Calle Sagarnaga, an area dedicated to all things touristy. This bustling strip, located just south of Plaza San Francisco, is lined with businesses catering primarily to tourists, featuring hostels, tour agencies, cafes, souvenir stores and clothing stalls. Due to its popularity, Calle Sagarnaga sees new shops opening on a weekly basis, offering more and more goodies for travelers to buy. Interestingly, Calle Sagarnaga has always been a prime spot for travelers. In the 18th Century, the buildings lining Calle Sagarnaga were used by people traveling on foot between Potosi and the Peruvian coast to rest their weary heads. Towards the upper end of Calle Sagarnaga, on Calle Eloy Salmon, visitors can shop for cheap electronics, while the lower end of the street is where visitors can find one of the city’s most famous landmarks: San Francisco Church. Calle Sagarnaga is also home to one of La Paz’s most interesting and culturally fascinating attractions. Situated on Calle Linares between Sagarnaga and Santa Cruz, the Witches Market is the part of the city where ancient Aymaran beliefs are still practiced. For those looking to purchase a Bolivian musical instrument, silver jewelry, fluffy alpaca sweater or even a salteña or two, Calle Sagarnaga is a unique place to shop ’til you drop. Source: www.lapazlife.com
One of La Paz’s most popular streets is Calle Sagarnaga, an area dedicated to all things touristy. This bustling strip, located just south of Plaza San Francisco, is lined with businesses catering primarily to tourists, featuring hostels, tour agencies, cafes, souvenir stores and clothing stalls. Due to its popularity, Calle Sagarnaga sees new shops opening on a weekly basis, offering more and more goodies for travelers to buy. Interestingly, Calle Sagarnaga has always been a prime spot for travelers. In the 18th Century, the buildings lining Calle Sagarnaga were used by people traveling on foot between Potosi and the Peruvian coast to rest their weary heads. Towards the upper end of Calle Sagarnaga, on Calle Eloy Salmon, visitors can shop for cheap electronics, while the lower end of the street is where visitors can find one of the city’s most famous landmarks: San Francisco Church. Calle Sagarnaga is also home to one of La Paz’s most interesting and culturally fascinating attractions. Situated on Calle Linares between Sagarnaga and Santa Cruz, the Witches Market is the part of the city where ancient Aymaran beliefs are still practiced. For those looking to purchase a Bolivian musical instrument, silver jewelry, fluffy alpaca sweater or even a salteña or two, Calle Sagarnaga is a unique place to shop ’til you drop. Source: www.lapazlife.com
Museum of Contemporary Art