Maracay

A city with a pleasant disposition and filled with natural and historical landmarks, Maracay is a land where culture meets commerce. Dictator Juan Vicente Gomez undertook the city's revitalization and succeeded greatly in doing so, earning it the moniker of Ciudad Jardin or Garden City. The city's deep-rooted connection to history is evident in the architecture of its monuments and buildings. The Plaza de Toros Maestranza and Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral depict strong colonial influence in the city. On the other hand, the magnificent Government Palace of the State of Aragua takes one back to the Renaissance period. Housing two of the largest air bases in the country, Maracay is significant to nation for more than just culture and commerce. Blessed with nature's bounty, the city is a hotspot of biodiversity. Maracay's western and southern borders abut the Lago Valencia, the third largest freshwater lake in the country. The verdant rainforest of Henri Pittier National Park, one of the oldest in the country, occupies the northern side of the metropolis. Blossoming with urban development and natural wealth, Maracay is as glorious an example of a city as can be.