Valencia sights and landmarks guide

Valencia Sights – Natural Surroundings and Environmentalist Issues

We are in Venezuela, and the city of Valencia has very interesting sights to offer, both from its natural environment and religious background as well as from its cultural heritage and monuments. Being located in a valley, the geographical surroundings make up for what is probably the most spectacular Valencia sights, the mountains and the lake that surround the city. Lake Valencia, which lies on the eastern part of the city, is the second largest lake in Venezuela but the problems with waste water and algae constantly challenge the environmentalists in the area.

Valencia Sights – Art and History

Valencia has lots of museums and art centers that you can visit throughout the week and find out more about local history but also about contemporary artists and their work. The Valencia Athenaeum is a large art centre where there are regular concerts and exhibitions taking place, while the Municipal Theatre of Valencia is the main theatre in Carabobo State. It was built in 1895 and it has been hosting classical plays ever since, more recently also turning its attention to unconventional performances. Valencia’s museums speak of its history in a modest but convincing way. The Paez House, for example, is a museum made from the house of Jose Antonio Paez, one of the first presidents of the country and an important fighter for the cause of independence. The Celis House, which was originally built in 1765 by the colonial populations, now hosts the Museum of Art and History, while the Museum of Anthropology is in a different location and qualifies as a very good source for pre-Columbian period in the history of Venezuela.

Valencia Sights – Nature and Culture

Maybe one of the strong points of the Valencia sights are its parks and green areas that are managed very well and turn the city into the most important “green” representative in the area, surpassing the Caracas Sights or those in Barquisimeto at this level. The Negra Hipolita Park, which seems never ending, has an incredible display of gardens, topped with concert halls and children party spots, cultural centers and entertainment opportunities for the whole family. Another must see is Valencia’s Aquarium, the largest in all Latin America, which also hosts a small zoo and opportunities for children. However, if you are looking for an adrenaline rush you should go inside the Valencia Metropolitan Park, where you will find Plaza Monumental de Valencia, the second largest bullring in the world.