Potosi
and Sucre
You
could arrive in Potosi overland from Uyuni or Sucre, and in
Sucre by plane from la Paz depending on your itinerary. As
the two cities are only a three hours apart by road it is
natural to combine both of them. Both cities are very interesting
with lots of things to do and see. there is a wide range of
accomodation that we can arrange for you depending upon your
budget.
The
city of Potosi is the highest city of its size in the world
and a UNESCO Heritage site, situated
at an oxygen-rare 4090m above sea level. An interesting city
visit can be made to the Casa de Moneda, the original royal
mint built in the mid-1700’s and now housing a variety
of displays, from wooden colonial-era minting machines and
religious art, to Tiahuanaco artefacts and Bolivian war relics.
It even has the country’s first locomotive.
The
Spanish were attracted to these high terrains by the promise
of abundant deposits of silver and zinc and during the early
years of the 17th century the town itself was the largest
in the region, producing over half the silver found in the
Americas. Considered one of Bolivia’s finest historical
monuments, the city is littered with ornate mansions and glorious
churches, filled with a glittering array of baroque interiors.
You could perhaps take a guided city tour. The architecture
is all the more accentuated by the bright clear light that
bathes the landscape, helped by the fact that Potosi is so
high.
The most famous thing to do in Potosi is visit the silver
mine in the Cerro Rico Mountain. Towering 700m above the city,
it was described by one Spanish writer as ‘the mouth
of hell’. Descending into the mine is not for the fainthearted,
as you are often bent double in the narrow, steep and muddy
passageways, so those who are claustrophobic or afraid of
heights may wish to pass on the actual descent into the mine.
Conditions even today are very basic, with all the work being
done by hand and with the most primitive of tools and with
dynamite blasting. However, as it is a co-operative the miners
can work what hours they want and sell what they extract to
the cooperative at the market price.
Sucre
With
a day to explore at your leisure, Bolivia’s most attractive
city presents a very attractive proposition. Its large plazas
and elegant facades offer an enchanting backdrop, and a
wander through its tree lined streets and rich heritage affords
a unique insight into its rich
history.
The
17th century cathedral in the centre of town contains the
stunning jewel encrusted
‘Virgen do Guadalupe’ by Bernardo Britti, an artist
who studied under Raphael and became
the first great painter of the new world. Nearby is the Museo
de la Cathedral, which holds an extensive collection of religious
artefacts and at the Casa de la Libertad you can find the
house where Bolivia’s declaration of independence was
signed in 1825. As well as its rich past, Sucre has also embraced
the future of the country and is renowned as being the country’s
student capital, investing it with a young and relaxed atmosphere
that makes it such a pleasure to explore.
Other
great short tours from the city are those that visit the dinosaur
footprints and also the famous Tarabuco market and surrounding
estates. These tours can be taken in half or full days.
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