Showing 1-15 of 15 results
-
Casa de la Libertad
For a dose of local history, it's hard to beat this house where the Bolivian declaration of independence was signed on August 6, 1825 - it's both a national memorial and the symbolic heart of the nation. The first score of Bolivian congresses were held in the Salón de la Independencia, originally a Jesuit chapel; doctoral candidates were also examined here.
-
Catedral
Sucre's Catedral dates from the middle of the 16th century and is a harmonious blend of Renaissance architecture with later Baroque additions. It's a noble structure, with a bell tower that is a local landmark. Inside, the white single-naved space has a series of oil paintings of the apostles, as well as an ornate altarpiece and pulpit. Some might find the interior a little saccharine, particularly the hanging angels.
-
Cementerio Municipal
The enthusiasm surrounding Sucre's Cementerio Municipal seems disproportionate to what's there. There are some arches carved from poplar trees, as well as picturesque palm trees and the mausoleums of wealthy colonial families, but it's a mystery why it should inspire such local fervor. To enliven the experience, visit on a weekend when it's jam-packed with families, or hire one of the enthusiastic child guides for a few bolivianos.
-
Convento de San Felipe Neri
A visit to the bell tower and tiled rooftop of the San Felipe Neri convent more than explains Sucre's nickname of the 'White City of the Americas'. In the catacombs there are tunnels where priests and nuns once met clandestinely and also where, during times of political unrest, guerrillas hid and circulated around the city.
-
Iglesia de la Merced
This church is blessed with the most beautiful interior of any church in Sucre and possibly in Bolivia. The church's founding date is uncertain, but it's believed to be sometime in the early 1550s. The building was completed no later than the early 1580s. The Baroque-style altar and carved mestizo pulpit are decorated with filigree and gold inlay.
-
Iglesia de San Francisco
The Iglesia de San Francisco was established in 1538 by Francisco de Aroca soon after the founding of the city. It began as a makeshift structure; the current church wasn't completed until 1581. In 1809, when the struggle for Bolivian independence got under way, a law passed by Mariscal Sucre transferred San Francisco's religious community to La Paz and turned the building over to the army, to be used as a military garrison, market and customs hall.
-
Iglesia de Santa Mónica
The mestizo-style Iglesia de Santa Mónica was begun in 1574 and was originally intended to serve as a monastery for the Ermitañas de San Agustín. However the order ran into financial difficulties in the early 1590s, eventually resulting in its closure and conversion into a Jesuit school.
-
Museo de la Catedral
The four sections in the museum are unlocked as your visit progresses to reveal Bolivia's best collections of religious relics. In the entry room is a series of religious paintings from the colonial era. Next, a chapel has relics of saints, and fine gold and silver chalices. The highlight, however, is the Capilla de la Virgen de Guadalupe, completed in 1625.
-
Museo de los Niños Tanga-Tanga
On the same square as La Recoleta, and set in a beautiful building, this excellent interactive children's Museo de los Niños Tanga-Tanga focuses on renewable energy sources. Highlights include the botanical gardens and explanations of Bolivian ecology. The museum also hosts cultural and environmental programs, including theater performances and ceramic classes. The attached Café Mirador is a great place to relax while enjoying the best view in town.
-
Museo de Santa Clara
Located in the Santa Clara Convent the Museo de Santa Clara, founded in 1639, contains several works by Bolivian master Melchor Pérez de Holguín and his Italian instructor, Bernardo de Bitti. In 1985 it was robbed and several paintings and gold ornaments disappeared.
-
Advertisement
-
Museo Gutiérrez Valenzuela
In the southeast corner of the main plaza, the university runs the Museo Gutiérrez Valenzuela; an old aristocrat's house with 19th-century décor. There's also a reasonably interesting natural history museum here.
-
Museo Textil-Etnográfico
The superb Museo Textil-Etnográfico is a must for anyone interested in the indigenous groups of the Sucre area. Run by an anthropological foundation, it focuses particularly on the woven textiles of the Jalq'a and Candelaria (Tarabuco) cultures. It's a fascinating display, and has an interesting subtext: the rediscovery of forgotten ancestral weaving practices has contributed to increased community pride and revitalization.
-
Museos Universitarios
The Museos Universitarios are three separate halls housing colonial relics, anthropological artifacts and modern art.
-
Parque Cretácico (Cal Orck'o)
It seems that 65 million years ago the site of Sucre's Fancesa cement quarry, six kilometers from the centre, was the place to be for large, scaly types. When the grounds were being cleared in 1994, plant employees uncovered a nearly vertical mudstone face bearing over 6000 tracks - some of which measure up to 80cm in diameter - from over 150 different species of dinosaur.
-
Prefectura de Chuquisaca
For the best view in town, inquire at the national police office inside the wedding cake-like Prefectura de Chuquisaca, next to the cathedral. If they're in a good mood, they might take you up to the cupola of the building for free. Note the murals depicting the struggle for Bolivian independence as you come upstairs.
Showing 1-15 of 15 results
