Plus appréciés Attractions à Caracas

The warm yet sober elegance of this museum, created in 1950, is divided into four areas dedicated to the Colonial Period, Porcelain and Ceramics, the Bolívar Collection and Miscellanies. In the Colonial Period section, the museum boasts furniture, paintings and miscellaneous objects. The Ceramic collection includes crockery of different styles and uses, which belonged to relevant families such as the Bolívars. Some of these pieces, as well as other objects, also form part of the Bolívar collection. Apart from the collections, this foundation also has highly valuable documents relating to 19th century Venezuela, including the Simón Bolívar archive.

A monumental religious and architectural symbol, Basilica de Santa Teresa holds tremendous historical significance. In the 1870s when Caracas was undergoing urban reform, President Antonio Guzman Blanco commissioned a church in the place of Oratory of San Felipe Neri, as an honor to his wife Ana Teresa. Architect Juan Hurtado Manrique designed this exceptional Neoclassical building. The exemplar architectural marvel consists of two wings with a central dome. While the western end is dedicated to Santa Ana, the eastern wing is dedicated to Santa Teresa. Inside the imposing white facade one can find the iconic image of El Nazareno de San Pablo (The Nazarene of St. Paul). The magnificent wooden carved statue of Jesus Christ dressed in purple robes holds sacred importance. Every Wednesday, devotees throng to the church to see the image which is believed to have miraculous healing powers.

This gallery is located in the former home of the owners of a large ranch, with 35,000 square meters of land, set aside in what is today the modern area that borders the Francisco de Miranda Avenue between Altamira, La Floresta y Los Palos Grandes. For the exhibitions that are presented there, 230 square meters of colonial interior space are used, without any previous modification, distributing the pieces in an irregular and yet harmonious fashion. No matter what the exhibition is about, everything is perfectly integrated into the environment. This center is fundamentally dedicated to three-dimensional design, graphic and industrial design and photography. It was created in 1995, as part of a program promoted by the Cultural Action Department of Petroleos de Venezuela.

Tucked away off one of the streets near Plaza Bolivar, the birthplace of El Libertador Simon Bolivar is no longer the tranquil house it once was due to its current popularity. Known as Casa Natal del Libertador, this quaint 17th Century house will take you back in time to the colonial era. A single story house, the Casa opens up to beautiful courtyards and patios. While its architecture is largely Spanish Colonial, the front facade is built in stone which differs from more characteristic colonial houses. The corridors, antique furniture and chambers depict Bolivar's journey from being a child to becoming Venezuela's most prominent national leader. Artwork by Tito Salas depicting Bolivar's significant life events are displayed inside the house. This house is a labyrinth of memories and a peek into the life of one of the most celebrated heroes of Venezuela.

An illustrious monument to the national heroes of Venezuela, the National Pantheon is also an exquisite architectural and historical landmark. Built originally in the colonial style in the 1870s, the pantheon was revamped to become one of the first Neo-Gothic buildings in Venezuela. Awash in light pink, the aisles showcase some of the bravest national heroes and significant luminaries in Venezuelan history. The central nave of the interior is dominated by El Libertador Simon Bolivar, the most eminent of Venezuela's national leaders, with his sarcophagus placed at the earlier site of the altar. A magnificent Baccarat chandelier with 4,000 shards and over 200 lights festoons the ceiling. Excellent works of art by Tito Salas hang on the ceilings and are a great draw for art connoisseurs. A symbol of national pride and art, the National Pantheon is a glorious tribute to the greatest personalities of Venezuela.

This building, despite several restorations, still retains traces of colonial Caracas in the midst of the hustle and bustle of present day downtown Caracas. Its name comes from the people who built it, and it was founded in 1614. The actual building seems to have been erected after the earthquake of 1812, which devastated the city. Apart from the colonial air that still pervades the atmosphere inside, the main altar can be admired, a neoclassical work of art by Francisco Cardozo.