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Casa Amarilla
The 17th-century balconied mansion called the Yellow House, on the western side of Plaza Bolívar, was originally an infamous royal prison. Wholly revamped and painted lemon yellow (hence its name) after independence, the building was converted into a presidential residence. Today it's the seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and can't be visited, but have a good look through the archway and note the well-preserved colonial appearance of its exterior.
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National Capitol
As part of his mad dash toward modernization in the 1870s, Guzmán Blanco commissioned an ambitious, neoclassical seat of congress, the National Capitol , to occupy the entire block just southwest of Plaza Bolívar. The two-building complex was erected on the site of a convent, whose occupants were promptly expelled by the dictator and their convent razed.
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Plaza Bolívar
This leafy square is the nucleus of the old town. It's always alive with huddled groups of caraqueños engaged in conversation and children feeding freshly popped corn to the black squirrels in the trees, while vendors hawk lemonade and cepilladas (shaved ices) on the sidelines, the whole scene shaded by African tulip trees and jacarandas. Golden cherubs gather round the fountains at each corner of the square.
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Teatro Municipal
A striking example of General Guzmán Blanco's Euro-influenced architectural ambitions, the Municipal Theater opened its doors in 1881 with the presentation of Giuseppe Verdi's Il Trovatore by the Fortunato Corvaia Italian opera company. Its sumptuous, domed interior with three tiers of balconies echoes the grandiose European opera houses of the era. After a period of deterioration, it was reinaugurated in 1998, resuming its role as a showcase for operas and plays, as well as concerts by the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Caracas.
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Torre Oeste
Parque Central is not, as you might expect, a green area, but rather a concrete complex of five high-rise residential slabs of somewhat apocalyptic appearance, crowned by two 54-story octagonal towers, the tallest in the country. You can ascend the Torre Oeste to the 49th floor for phenomenal views toward the north and west.
Showing 1-5 of 5 results
