Mother Earth Travel > Venezuela > Caracas > History  Hotels in Caracas

Caracas has an excellent transport system: there is an intricate network of roads that cross the city from east to west and north to south; an exceptional underground transport system known as Metro de Caracas, which is considered one of the world's tidiest and most modern, with many stations all over the city; and bus routes known as Metrobus which connect the metro stations with some of the more remote neighbourhoods.

Some of the most important areas of Caracas are: El Silencio, Parque Central, Sabana Grande, El Rosal y Las Mercedes, Altamira y El Hatillo.

El Silencio (downtown): History at a glance! El Silencio proudly shows an important part of Venezuela from between the 17th and 18th centuries. Distinguished by beautiful architectural treasures, this part of Caracas is well worth a visit. Places such as Plaza Bolívar (Bolívar Square), a cathedral, dating from 1665, the la Casa Natal de Simón Bolívar -the house where Simón Bolívar, the Liberator, was born; the 17th century- la Casa Amarilla, once a prison but now used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the el Capitolio, seat of the legislative council; the el Teatro Nacional, (National Theatre), the 'Panteón Nacional', the resting place for prominent Venezuelans; the Santa Teresa Church; the el Palacio de Miraflores (the presidential palace) and the Arturo Michelena Museum, should not be forgotten.

Parque Central: Innovation, architecture, art and culture, and the country's two highest towers... If there is any place that shows how modern Caracas is, it is Parque Central. Located 1.5 km to the south-east of Plaza Bolívar, the park contains a concrete structure with two 53-floor octagonal towers and residential buildings. However, if it is not architecture and structural designs but culture, that takes your interest, you will be pleasantly surprised to find a great number of art centres here:

Complejo Cultural Teresa Carreńo, -where the arts reach the utmost expression-, through theatre, dance, concerts, and ballet performances among many others. The most important museums of the city: Contemporary Art Museum, Children's Museum, Natural Science Museum, Museum of Fine Arts Museum, and the National Art Gallery. The immense Botanical Garden. The Ateneo, where you will find a cinema, theatres, an art gallery, a cafeteria and a bookstore.