Potosí
History
The discovery of ore in silver-rich Cerro Rico (rich hill) by
Indian Diego Huallpa in 1544 prompted the foundation of the city of Potosí on April 10th,
1545 at the foot of the hill. The city was born under the name of Villa Imperial de Carlos
V, in honor of then Spanish king Carlos V. Its founder was Juan de Villarroel. Large-scale
excavation began in the site immediately and the first shipment of silver was sent to Spain. In
1672, a mint was established to coin silver and water reservoirs were built to fulfill the
growing population's needs. At that time more than eighty six churches were built and the
city's population increased to nearly 200,000, making it one of the largest and wealthiest
cities in Latin America and in the world. During the early 19th-century,
struggles for independence caused many churches to be looted. Then the
city's wealth was removed to Europe or to other parts of the Spanish
realm. By then the population dropped to less than 10,000. By the time
of independence in 1825, the mines of the Cerro Rico were almost
exhausted. In the mid 19th century, a fall in silver prices hurt Potosi's economy in a
way from which it has never completely recovered. On December 11, 1987 (in Paris, France), the UNESCO declared the city of Potosí
a "World Heritage Site"
in recognition for its rich history and its wealth of colonial architecture.
By November 1996, according to data from the Instituto
Nacional de Estadística (INE), Potosí had a
population of 121,097 inhabitants.
Climate
The city of Potosí sits at an altitude of 4,090 meters above
sea level, being the highest city in the world. The city is well-known for its cool
weather and sometimes freezing rain.
How to Get There
By land:
| From Sucre: 164 Km by asphalt and
rubble road |
| From Tarija: 368 Km by rubble road |
| From Oruro: 321 Km by asphalt and
rubble road |
By train:
| Villazón (Argentinean border) - Tupiza - Uyuni - Potosí |
| La Paz - Oruro - Uyuni - Potosí |
| Sucre - Potosí |
By air:
Currently, no airline travels to Potosí
Main Attractions
| Cerro Rico: Mine tours are
available. |
| La Casa de la Moneda: The
first mint in Potosí was built during the second half of the 18th century to control
minting activities right where the silver was extracted. The Museo de la Casa de la
Moneda has exhibits on silver and gold coining as well as colonial paintings. |
| The Cathedral: Potosí's
cathedral was built during the second half of the 16th century. Finished in the early
1600, it underwent reconstruction works from 1808 to 1838. |
| San Benito Church: The
construction of this church begun on the early 1700. It features marvelous Byzantine domes
as well as mestizo wooden carvings. |
| San Lorenzo Church: The
mestizo-Baroque portal carvings by 16th century artisans is one of the main attractions.
Some paintings by Melchor Perez de Holguín are displayed in the church. |
| Other Churches:
Belen, San Bernardo, San Agustín, La Compañía de Jesús, San Martín, San Juan de
Dios, Santo Domingo. |
| Museo de San Francisco: Built
as a convent in 1547, the museum has samples of religious art which includes works by
Perez de Holguín. |
| Museo de Santa Teresa:
Convent founded in 1685. Display works by renowned painter Melchor Perez de Holguín. |
|
