Sucre: “White City. La Paz and Sucre are the capitals of Bolivia. Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

The city of Sucre, one of the highest capitals in the world, is located in south-central Bolivia. In general, the layout of the city, preserved since the times of colonization, is very logical and understandable: the street grid in Sucre is geometric, the streets are located at right angles to each other.

City `s history

Sucre was founded by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Ansures, Marquis de Campo Redondo on November 30, 1538 on the site of the Indian village of Charcas. The city was originally called Ciudad de la Plata de la Nueva Toledo (“Silver City of New Toledo”, abbreviated as La Plata): near it there were deposits of silver, which at first seemed inexhaustible.

In 1559, the Spanish king Philip II (1527-1598) established a royal audience (court of appeal) in the new city, whose jurisdiction extended to the territory of present-day Paraguay, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. This marked the beginning of the consolidation of judicial power in the city and the establishment of La Plata as the constitutional capital: today the Supreme Court of Bolivia is located here.

First of all, the Spaniards built monasteries and churches, which became strongholds of Catholic expansion in Bolivia. In 1601, the monastery of La Recoleta was founded and the church of Santa Ana de Monteción was built, which have survived to this day and have become one of the main attractions of Sucre. The process of converting the Indians to Catholicism progressed so successfully that already in 1609 the city became the center of the archbishopric. Today, Sucre also retains an important role in the life of the Catholic Church: the city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Bolivia.

Wealthy Spaniards willingly moved to Sucre from the Old World, attracted by the cool climate of the highland city and the opportunity to increase their wealth through the silver trade, in the development of which Indians worked as slaves. As the population of La Plata increased, there was a growing need to provide noble citizens with an education no worse than European, so in 1624, the Chuquisaca University of St. Francis Xavier, one of the oldest in the New World, was opened in La Plata.

But the Indians' patience had to come to an end one day. In 1781, there was an uprising led by Tupac Katari (1750-1781). Participants in the liberation movement besieged La Paz, the current capital of Bolivia. However, the uprising was suppressed and its leader was executed.

The next rise in anti-Spanish sentiment was not long in coming. On May 25, 1809, a riot broke out again, this time in La Plata. It served as the beginning of the struggle for the independence of the Spanish colonies in America, which ended by 1826. On August 6, 1825, the Declaration of Independence of Bolivia, formerly part of Upper Peru along with modern Peru, and also partly with Chile and Argentina, was signed in La Plata . Then the city was named Chuquisaca.

In 1839, La Plata became the capital of the country and was named Sucre, in honor of Antonio José de Sucre y Alcala (1795-1830), “Grand Marshal of Ayacucho.” He was one of the leaders of the war for the independence of the Spanish colonies in Latin America, and in 1826-1828. served as President of Bolivia.

In 1898, due to the depletion of silver reserves in the mines, Sucre lost its political significance, and the capital moved to. But historically, Sucre has retained its status as the constitutional capital of Bolivia.

Sucre is often referred to as the "capital of American Tibet" because Bolivia is high in the mountains, largely isolated from other countries and has been landlocked since 1879, when the country lost the coastal region of Antofagasta in the Second Pacific War (1879-1883). gg., from Chile). The city of Sucre itself is considered one of the highest capitals in the world: located at an altitude of 2810 m above sea level.

The urban population works mainly on suburban farms and small food industry enterprises where agricultural products are processed.

Previously, back in colonial times, the city was considered “the most Spanish” in the New World. The city center has retained its appearance, so here you can still not only see examples of traditional Spanish architecture, but also find out what the layout of Sucre was like back in colonial times. A strictly geometric grid of streets, planned on the basis of the Andalusian style, diverges from the central square of 25 May. In the historical part of the city, white and orange colors predominate: the walls of the houses are painted white, and the clay tiles on the roofs are orange. Because of this combination, Sucre is sometimes called the “White City”.

In 1991, the historical part of Sucre was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Many buildings here have not only architectural but also historical value, since their walls still remember the times of the Bolivian people’s struggle for independence. The most important attraction is the House of Liberty, built in 1621. It was here that a fateful event for Bolivia took place: Simon Bolivar (1783-1830), a hero of the war for the independence of the Spanish colonies, proclaimed the freedom of Bolivia and later wrote the Constitution of the country. The same building, now occupied by the Casa de la Libertad Historical Museum, houses the original Bolivian Declaration of Independence, the country's first and most important historical document.

Sucre also preserves the National Library, which, in terms of construction time, is the same age as the independent Republic of Bolivia.

Residents of Sucre hope to be added to the UNESCO list. In March 2011, Bolivia nominated the local festival of Pujlay, which represents an amazing interweaving of Indian traditions and elements of the Christian religion, for the right to be included in the World Heritage List. It takes place annually in the village of Tarabuco near the capital. Pujlay, or Puklay, translated from the Quechua Indian language means “game” - the “play” of clouds and flowers under the gusts of wind after the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the harvest is meant. At the center of the entire celebration is the celebration of the victory of the Bolivians over the Spaniards in the struggle for the country's independence. Hence the helmets of the Spanish conquistadors, spurs and muskets flashing in the crowd during ritual dances.

general information

Location: central part of South America.

Constitutional capital of the Republic of Bolivia, administrative center of the department of Chuquisaca and the province of Oropesa.

Date of foundation: November 30, 1538
Administrative division: 8 districts (1-5 - urban, 6-8 - rural).

Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara.
Ethnic composition(Bolivia): Indians - 55%, mestizos - 30%, whites - 14%, Bolivians of African descent - 1% (2011).

Religions: Catholicism, Protestantism.

Currency unit: boliviano.

Largest river: Pilcomayo.
Major airport: Juan Azurduy de Padilla International Airport.

Numbers

Population: 306,800 people (2010).

Population density: 173.5 people/km 2 .

Height above sea level: 2810 m.

Climate and weather

Average January temperature: +16°C.

Average temperature in July: +13°C.
Average annual precipitation: 662 mm.

Relative humidity: 75%.

Economy

Regional transport hub: railway, aviation, road.

Industry: oil refining, woodworking, food, tobacco, textile, cement.

Traditional Indian souvenirs.
Service sector: tourism, trade, transport.

Attractions

Curious facts

The city of Sucre is the official capital of Bolivia. Pleasant historical city with colonial architecture.

After the dirty, shabby La Paz, overrun by merchants and various suspicious characters, the city of Sucre seemed to us simply incredibly clean and beautiful.

It was pleasant to walk here: it was warm, the sun was shining, the altitude was only about 2900 meters above sea level, there was no wind, and the sidewalks were not cluttered with dirty Indian traders and their rotten vegetables. It's like it's not in Bolivia!

There are many white buildings, which is why Sucre is nicknamed the White City (Spanish: La Ciudad Blanca).

In 1991, the old central district of Sucre was included in the UNESCO list of historical heritage.

In Spanish and English: Sucre. Stress on the first syllable.

The word "sucre" is translated from Spanish as "sugar", but the city is named so not because of sugar, but in honor of Antonio José de Sucre - Grand Marshal of Peru, one of the leaders of the struggle for the independence of the Spanish colonies in Latin America in 1810-1826, President of Bolivia in 1826-1828, national hero of Bolivia and Ecuador.

Currency: Boliviano. Mostly cash is used; cards are rarely accepted.

The city of Sucre is the capital of Bolivia according to the country's constitution, but most government institutions are located in La Paz.

Population: 300 thousand people.

What to see in Sucre: main attractions

central square called Plaza 25 Mayo: there are some nice buildings here.

Did you notice the star? All that's missing is the hammer and sickle :)

I really liked it Museum of Ethnography and Folklore(Etnografia y Folklore). It is free, open Mon-Fri 9:30-12:30, 14:30-18:30, Sat 9:30-12:30. There were amazing ceremonial masks, a photo exhibition of Indian feather products, paintings depicting various birds, an ethnographic hall: (how people lived, utensils, etc.) Visiting time - less than half an hour;) It’s a pity that photography was not allowed, only in the courtyard .

We accidentally came across corridor with historical comics at the Hostal Colonial on the main square.

Templo de San Francisco: ceilings!

Natural History Museum(Historia Natural) is wonderful! It is free, open Mon-Fri 9-12:30, 14:30-18:30, Sat 9:30-12. It is not located where it is on the Mapsme map, but on San Alberto street between Aniceto Acre and España, the entrance to the courtyard under the Spanish Lessons sign. You can take pictures. Lots of interesting skeletons and stuffed animals. Skeleton of a snake, Siamese twins, shark jaw, skeleton of a stingray and turtle, dinosaurs, fossils. Lots of stuffed animals, birds, fish, lizards, snakes, insects. We really enjoyed:)

Snake skeleton.

Siamese twins.

Shark jaw.

Turtle shell.

Some kind of scary prehistoric beast.

All sorts of stuffed animals.

And this is generally a terrible miracle! Its diameter is 4-5 centimeters, it was in the section of all marine life. Imagine, you are swimming, and such a meat grinder meets you. Brrrrrrr!

Or this “bunny”.

War Museum(Militar). 10 bolivianos ($1.5), photos allowed. Open Mon-Fri 8:30-12, 14:30-18, Sat 8:30-12. All sorts of military weapons, an airplane, a complete military history of Bolivia in Spanish, military uniforms, navy, etc. If you don’t have time, then you can skip it.

On this map we see that Bolivia used to have access to the sea, but then this territory was seized by Chile. Now the Bolivians do not miss the opportunity to cry that if they had access to the sea, they would be so bad, but the bad Chileans do not give them the sea, and the poor Bolivians do not develop because of this.

The Chileans told us that they built at their own expense a special road from Bolivia to a seaport specially designated for Bolivians, but the Bolivians do not use this property. It’s easier to whine and blame the Chileans for everything.

WITH Recoleta observation deck there is a view of the whole city.

Recoleta is a pleasant place in itself.

Main Cemetery of Sucre(Cementerio) is a very beautiful place. Family crypts and "high-rise buildings", as in. At the entrance you can rent a staircase for those who have someone buried on the upper floors.

Many cells have locks. Theft?

Entrance Mon-Fri 8-11:30, 14-17:30, Sat-Sun 8-17:30. You can leave later.

More photos from Sucre

Phone booths in the shape of dinosaurs.

And this is sold on the market, in half the butcher shops. I don’t even want to think what they are preparing from this.

Excursions in Sucre

There are no Russian-speaking guides in Sucre.

Video from Sucre: dance festival for city day

On the last day there was a dance festival - the procession of dancers lasted from six in the morning until two in the morning, music thundered, very similar to, but with even cooler costumes.

Subscribe to our channel on Youtube!

Accommodation in Sucre

All the main attractions are located in the center, so it is also better to stay in the center.

There are also more than 200 Airbnb accommodations, ranging from cheap rooms to luxury apartments and houses with a pool. Prices from 10$.

If you haven't signed up for Airbnb yet:

We lived there by couchsurfing; out of two dozen applications, only one host responded. He lives in a 250-year-old house, it’s like a museum there :) We talked with his whole family :)

We cooked borscht together. Bolivia generally has such a cuisine that when a local family tried borscht, my mother ran to write down the recipe, and my aunt offered to cook it for the New Year. Everyone really liked it :) In general, Sucre has excellent vegetables and fruits, good meat, but the locals prefer to eat grilled chicken or fried chicken in oil, with French fries.

The father of our host turned out to be a geologist, and at the word “crater” about Maragua he was very indignant and gave us a long lecture on why it is not a crater :) Why you shouldn’t go to Maragua, we will write separately;) Maragua is a valley, where there are some dinosaur tracks.

How to get to Sucre

Flights to Sucre

Sucre Airport is called Sucre Airport (IATA code: SRE), but there are few flights there.

Do not confuse it with Ecuador's Mariscal Sucre Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre, IATA code: UIO)!

How to find cheap flights

To find cheap flights, I usually compare prices using several aggregators. They all have the same principle - they search for tickets in the databases of hundreds of airlines, but their databases may differ, so the price will be better in one or the other - check everything at once.

• - incredibly flexible search, and there is a guarantee of a connection, even if you are flying low-cost airlines and the first flight is delayed!
• - the best prices for tickets from Russia and Kazakhstan, a convenient calendar of low prices.
• - there are good prices for tickets from Ukraine.

By the way, KIWI gives 20 euro coupons for air tickets to new users, but they can only be received by email. If anyone needs it, I can send you an invitation.

Calendar of low prices for air tickets:

Buses in Sucre

It is cheaper to get to Sucre from other cities in Bolivia by bus:

• Potosi 4 hours,
• La Paz or Cochabamba 12h,
• Santa Cruz 14h,

For long distances it is better to travel by night bus, but keep in mind that it can be VERY cold at night (!), you need to dress warmly and take a blanket or sleeping bag with you, especially if it is October-November, and not December-February.

It is best to buy bus tickets at the bus terminal: prices from different companies can be compared, and you don’t have to overpay travel agents.

Trains Potosi - Sucre

The train journey from Potosi to Sucre will take 8 hours - it will be faster to travel by bus.

Where is Sucre on the map of Bolivia

The city of Sucre is located in southern Bolivia, in the department of Chuquisaca.

Distance Sucre - La Paz 700 km, Sucre - Uyuni 360 km.

Weather and climate in Sucre

The temperature here is pleasant all year round: an average of 14-17 °C. There is little precipitation and the air is dry: from May to September there is a dry season, from November to March it can rain, but not much, not like in the tropics.

Our review of our holiday in Sucre, Bolivia

We liked it here: a beautiful pleasant city, interesting museums, Sucre is worth a visit during your trip to Bolivia.

The geography books from my childhood are confusing - almost every one states that the capital of Bolivia is called La Paz. Wikipedia says that Sucre is the real capital of Bolivia, but even many Bolivians in conversation refer to La Paz as the capital. So where is the truth?

The geography lessons that my parents and close friends have to repeat as I wander around this little round ball called the Earth are not always correct and sometimes baffling. "Mom, I'm in the capital." “Mom, it wasn’t the capital, now we are in the real capital.” And where is the daughter?

The real, constitutionally established capital of the country is Sucre. The country's Supreme Court is located here, but the Government and other administrative bodies, as well as all the country's wealth, are located in La Paz. Little Sucre is so inconspicuous that the honorary title of capital often goes to the large, famous La Paz.

Sucre is popularly called Ciudad Blanca, i.e. The White City and its historical center are listed in UNESCO for its colonial architecture, a unique combination of European architecture and local traditions. The city was founded in the 16th century by the Spanish, and relied on the mining industry of neighboring Potosi. In the past it was called Ciudad de Plata, the Silver City. For Europeans, Sucre became a prestigious place to live - as long as the Potosi mines existed. Potosi was the largest silver mining center in South America, a city with a very sad history, which I will tell you about another time.

The huge mine in Potosi, which for many years fed the insatiable mouths of Europeans, ceased to exist - snow-white Sucre was also forgotten.

The country's independence from the Spanish was declared here in 1825. The inscription “la union es la fuerza” on the Palacio Nacional building reminds us of this. The city was renamed in honor of José Antonio Sucre, leader of the Latin American War of Independence against the Spanish colonists and later president of Bolivia.

How we saw Sucre

Between hiking in the mountains and constantly moving around the country, we often stop in big cities to relax. After a week in tent conditions, rollton, cold, walking 25 km a day, the usual things like a cafe with double espresso and tres leches cake (exactly how my mother cooks on another continent!), straight clean beautiful streets, supermarkets open late bars with craft beer, fast internet and other little things of civilization are very much appreciated.

But at the same time, cities attract me less and less. It’s convenient to stay here for a couple of days, chat with people, go to bars until the morning, buy what you need, etc. But other than a short walk through the historical center of any city, we usually don’t go further. A church, a city museum, a main square, a shopping street, a couple of restaurants - a typical list to visit in any small city. Of course, there are unique cities that even if you explore for a year, it won’t be enough.

For me, big cities are inextricably linked with good coffee. In South America, so famous for its Colombian or Brazilian chic coffee, it is almost impossible to find a good cup of this drink. Usually they bring a cup of hot water and instant powder, or at best a very bad liquid drink boiled in a large cauldron. Finding a strong, aromatic double espresso is not an easy task, even in large cities.

Bolivia has become the most amazing country for me in terms of coffee. Americano here exists in two forms - “Americano” and “Bolivian Americano”. The first is a small cup, almost espresso, the second is the usual large cup of coffee. And they poured us takeaway coffee... in a regular plastic bag. You can take a straw or dig a hole and suck the coffee out of the bag.

We rested in Sucre. Okay, Pavel was resting, and I was working 5-6 hours a day (as the Internet allowed) - the backpacker life is often accompanied by freelancing. The good Internet in Bolivian cities (and its complete absence in the villages) required spending time on the hostel patio or in a cafe. In the evenings we went to the bar, wandered around the city or talked with the guys in the hostel.

Freelancing Opportunities in Bolivia

Why not earn N bucks while traveling? Especially if your job involves copy-pasting, sipping beer, and hanging out with cheerful Colombians and Peruvians? Instead of scrolling through Facebook or Instagram a thousand times, you can work, if only you had a good Internet connection. In my case, this was far from my main income, but it was very helpful (at least enough for a month’s living without excursions).

Bolivia is not suitable for normal freelancing, the Internet here is slow and is only available in big cities, and even then not everywhere. Those. In principle, you can find a place with good Internet (and stay there for a long time), but you certainly shouldn’t move around and expect fast, high-quality Internet everywhere. But here it is very, very, very cheap, beautiful, interesting, people are friendly - this is one of my favorite countries in South America. For $5-8 a day you can easily rent a hostel and buy groceries for the day.

What to do in Sucre?

Sucre is a cute town that can be explored in one or two days. The difference from the more traditional, noisy, chaotic La Paz is felt from the first second.

Sucre is a European city. A pleasant itinerary for the day is to have a double espresso in one of the city's tempting cafes, stroll along the snow-white streets and have a snack salteno(local juicy empanada-pie), climb to La Ricoleta hill and enjoy the view of the city (and perhaps visit the museum-monastery) and have lunch at the market, in the dining rooms on the second floor, local chorizo ​​sausages - look for the name " chorizo ​​chuquisaqueño"(the MUST). In the evening you can go to Joy Ride, one of the city's most popular bars or craft beer bars, of which there are plenty in the city. The stout and IPA were good to have, but we didn’t find anything particularly outstanding during our couple of days in the city.

I wanted to stay in Sucre longer - it is quiet and comfortable. I needed to finish my work, and we were pretty tired from the road - so we stayed. Our hostel was one of the best of the whole trip, cheap, friendly, with cool people from different countries (mostly from South America, so we improved our Spanish quite well in these couple of days).

Sucre (Spanish: Sucre) is the main city. It is also the capital of the departments of Chuquisaca and Oropesa. Tourists often ask which city is the capital of Bolivia - or Sucre. We answer: the first is the capital de facto, and the second is de jure, that is, officially.

The city of Sucre is located in the Altiplano mountain valley (in its eastern part), at an altitude of 2800 m above sea level. Sucre is one of the highest capitals in the world and covers an area of ​​1768 square meters. km, and the city is inhabited by about 310 thousand people.

In Sucre, industries such as food, tobacco, wood and oil refining are developed at a fairly high level. In addition, trade in vegetables, fruits and cereals grown in the river valley makes a significant contribution to the development of the economy of Sucre and all of Bolivia.

Citizens and religion

The city of Sucre was founded in 1538 by the emissary Pedro de Ansures on the site of the former Indian village of Charcas. The indigenous population of the city is the Indians of the Quechua, Aymara and Guarani tribes, but there are also a lot of mestizos (mixed races) and people from Europe in Sucre. The official language of Sucre is Spanish, but you can often hear Indian dialects, especially in remote areas of the city.

During the Middle Ages, the indigenous population was brutally exploited in the silver mines and forced to convert to Catholicism. By 1609, most of the city's inhabitants had converted to the Catholic faith, and Sucre became the center of an archbishopric. Today, more than 80% of the population consider themselves Catholics, and the city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Bolivia.

Climate in Sucre

The climate in the capital of Bolivia, Sucre, is mild and subtropical. There are no sudden changes in temperature, and the amount of precipitation throughout the year is moderate. In winter (June - August), the air temperature here does not drop below +13°C, and the most comfortable time to visit the city of Sucre is the period from September to December: the amount of precipitation at this time is minimal, there is no heat and there are many sunny days. This also applies in general.

Sights of the capital Sucre

Sucre is one of the quietest and most picturesque cities in Bolivia. Despite its rather modest size, the city contains many cultural and historical monuments. The main architectural highlight of Sucre is that all the buildings in the historical center of the capital of Bolivia are white - some are built of white limestone, and some are specially painted white, which is why locals call their capital the “White City”.

The main attractions of the capital of Bolivia, Sucre, are:

No less interesting places to visit in Sucre are castle, as well as museums such as Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Anthropology, Museum of Ethnic Textiles, and churches: , San Lesaro, San Miguel and many others.

Attractions in the vicinity of Sucre

If you are lucky enough to get to Sucre, then take some time to explore its surroundings, and we assure you that you will find a lot of interesting and exciting things there:

Meals and accommodation in Sucre

The city of Sucre has a good selection of accommodation options. Most often these are 2-3 star hotels (Sermal Hotel, Casas Kolping, Hotel Kronos). The choice of 4-star hotels is also quite good (Villa Antigua, San Marino Royal, Mi Pueblo Samary Hotel Boutique), and there are also many guest houses and hostels. For little money you can find a cozy room with all the necessary amenities.

There are cafes, bars and restaurants both at hotels and as independent establishments. Restaurants often serve local dishes, but if desired, you can also find European and Asian cuisine. Please note that it is not necessary to leave a tip in some restaurants, since a service charge is already included in the bill.

Shopping in Sucre

In Sucre there is a small shopping center with cinemas, a supermarket and boutiques, but for souvenirs and alpaca wool products it is better to go to the market, where the choice is richer and you can get a good price reduction. By the way, prices in Bolivia are quite reasonable, and the cost is even lower than in neighboring Peru.

How to get to Sucre?

There is Juana Azurduy de Padilla Airport not far from Sucre, but there are few flights here and prices are high. By land, Sucre can be reached from almost all major cities in Bolivia by intercity buses. So, the journey from and will take 4 hours, from – 8 hours, from and – 12 hours. For long journeys, we recommend choosing night flights, but it is worth considering that the nights here can be cold, so warm clothes or a blanket will not be superfluous along the way.

Curious facts about the capital of Bolivia Sucre

What else is worth knowing about Sucre:

• Sucre is not only the official capital of Bolivia, but also a chocolate city. The city produces and sells the best chocolate in the country, and in shops, cafes and markets you will be offered a variety of chocolate products;
• another name for Sucre is “Athens of South America”;
• Coca tea is not only a local treat, but also an excellent assistant for acclimatization in a high-mountainous village.

Although all government authorities are located in La Paz.

Sucre was founded in 1538, then it was called Chuquisaca. After gaining independence from Spain, this city was renamed in honor of one of the leaders of the war - General Antonio Jose De Sucre. In those days, the city gained great popularity due to its numerous silver deposits.

Sucre is located in central Bolivia. It is located in a mountain valley at an altitude of 2750 m above sea level, at the foot of the Eastern Cordillera. The majority of Indians live in this city (more than 55%), mainly Quechua, Aipari and Guarani. Mestizos make up about 30% of the population, and Europeans even less - less than 15%. Despite the overwhelming majority of Indian peoples, the official language of Sucre is Spanish. But everywhere you can hear conversations in the indigenous languages ​​of the Indian peoples.

Sucre's favorable location and its perfectly preserved architectural monuments make the city truly the most beautiful in Bolivia. It is not for nothing that UNESCO included it on the World Heritage List. Old Sucre is entirely built of limestone, which is why it is often called White city. Luxurious white buildings, their tiled roofs, balconies, colonial-style arches alternate with small streets where local women sell fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as incredibly delicious confectionery.

The city's economy is based mainly on trade in fruits and grains, which are grown near the city. The population of Sucre works in small agricultural enterprises. Some enterprises in the wood processing, oil refining, food, textile and tobacco industries are also located here. Its favorable location makes this city the trading center of the entire region.

As a rule, tourists in Sucre prefer to visit various architectural monuments and majestic Catholic cathedrals. The best entertainment for the whole family is a visit to the unique Dinosaur Park, which is located near Sucre. Here you can see the largest collection of traces of these prehistoric animals in the world.

Climate and weather

Sucre is located in a subtropical climate zone. The average annual temperature does not exceed +15 °C. The coldest months are May - July. At this time, the average daily air temperature can reach +13 °C. This period is considered dry. Precipitation falls mainly in summer, that is, from December to February. At this time the air warms up to +27 °C.

The best time to visit Sucre is late spring or early autumn. At this time, the air temperature is most acceptable for human adaptation, and the amount of precipitation is minimal. This means nothing will stop you from enjoying all the beauties of this stunning city.

Nature

Sucre, located in a mountain valley, is famous for its picturesque surroundings. Landscapes of the river valley Pilcomayo, where the official capital of Bolivia is located, are so stunning that when you see them you get the impression that you are at the end of the world. The numerous mountain peaks of the Cordillera Central surrounding this town give the area a special flavor.

Sucre is surrounded by dense, humid forests, as well as numerous fields with cereals grown on them.

Attractions

In 1991, thanks to its numerous architectural monuments, Sucre was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the most famous attractions not only of the city, but throughout Bolivia, is the famous Casa de Libertad. It was in this building that Bolivia's independence from the Spanish Crown was declared many years ago. Today Casa de Libertad is a State Museum that exhibits the most important documents, seals and other objects from the early years of independent Bolivia. Almost the entire central part of Sucre is occupied by the famous residence of the Spanish kings - the palace Palacio de la Glorietta. Its construction began in the 16th century. It was conceived as a residence for the governor, who was supposed to govern this region.

If you're in Sucre, be sure to visit the ancient church San Miguel: It was this building that was long considered the starting point for Jesuits and missionaries to neighboring countries. Interestingly, San Miguel is today the oldest active church on the entire continent. Its main feature is the unique painted walls, frescoes and mosaics that were painted by the student Rafael - Viti.

Recently, Sucre has acquired another very interesting attraction - Dinosaur wall. This is a huge monument with a length of more than one kilometer. On the wall there are approximately 5,000 footprints of dinosaurs, which more than 68 million years ago came to this place to quench their thirst. At the end of the twentieth century, an entire archaeological park was built on the territory adjacent to the wall, which presents life-size models of all representatives of the Cretaceous period that lived in this territory.

Nutrition

On the territory of Sucre there is a huge number of different restaurants and cafes, as well as small street eateries that offer their visitors dishes of both national cuisine and masterpieces from other countries.

The most attractive both in price and in terms of the range offered is the Chinese-Bolivian restaurant Bei Jing. Chinese chefs prepare classic Bolivian dishes here. It is believed that only true Chinese know a lot about cooking, and it doesn’t matter where they do it - in their homeland or in Bolivia. Despite the characteristic Chinese name of the restaurant, dishes of this cuisine are not served here. The most popular in this restaurant are milanesa And pollo. These are chicken chops and whole pieces of chicken cooked over an open fire. All dishes in this establishment come with a triple side dish - French fries, rice and pasta. The cost of such a hearty dinner for two is approximately $10.

Accommodation

Sucre boasts numerous high-quality hotels and inns that meet all existing international standards. That is why many of them have the coveted four or five stars.

Most hotels are pleased to offer their visitors not only spacious and comfortable rooms with a full range of all necessary services, but also excellent restaurants, bars, sports and gyms. In some hotels you can pamper yourself in wonderful spas.

One of the famous hotels among foreign tourists is Hotel De Su Merced. It is especially popular due to its convenient location. The hotel is located in the heart of Sucre, close to the Cathedral, the National Library and the Palace of Liberty. The rooms have satellite TV, wireless Internet and even a safe.

Entertainment and relaxation

Of course, most tourists go to Sucre to visit all the unique architectural monuments located here. Each building located in this city is a true masterpiece of colonial culture.

Sucre is home to one of the most luxurious opera houses in South America. People from all over the continent come to see his famous productions.

Lovers of a relaxing holiday can take wonderful walks through the famous park Bolivar, where copies of the most remarkable buildings and structures around the world are located. Among the copies are the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris and St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.

Stunningly beautiful city park Rosedal You can visit with small children. They will be delighted with the numerous rides.

Some travel agencies organize unforgettable excursions to one of the silver mines. The sight of a huge underground tunnel, the walls of which are completely covered with small particles of silver, will leave a very strong impression.

The most common type of holiday in Sucre is visiting the famous Dinosaur Park. There is no such spectacle in any other country in the world. On an area of ​​several square kilometers there are models of dinosaurs that once lived in this area. In addition, you can see here traces of extinct animals that have survived to this day. Who knows, maybe the descendants of these unique animals have been preserved in the depths of the dense local forests.

Sucre boasts some pretty fun nightlife. There are a large number of night bars and clubs here.

Purchases

Having a full-fledged supermarket in a Bolivian city is very rare. There is exactly such an establishment in Sucre. Moreover, this supermarket is located in a small shopping center, which also houses a small cinema.

In the supermarket you can buy all the necessary food products. Prices here are reasonable. Of course, if you buy the same product at the local market, it will cost you much less, but the store will provide you with a really good quality product. It is worth noting that in this store you can pay not only in cash, but also with a plastic card.

You can buy some souvenir to remember the beautiful Sucre in almost any store on the city streets. Here you can find both traditional Indian crafts and completely original things, such as items of clothing hand-sewn by representatives of the Indian tribe.

Transport

The status of the capital of the state gave impetus to the development of various types of transport in Sucre. Buses, minibuses and taxis travel along the city streets. The price for one bus ride is about $1. Taxi services will cost more, but the level of comfort here is much higher. For a trip around the city for one hour, a taxi driver may charge you about $5.

A special feature of Sucre roads is poor soil stability during heavy rainfall. At this time, there is a great danger of cars falling underground.

Rail transport links Sucre with other major cities in Bolivia. The difficult terrain on which the city is located prevents the construction of a railway throughout the city. Only a few branches are located in the west and east of Sucre. Using one of them you can take a unique trip to the famous salt lake Uyuni.

Not far from Sucre there is a large international airport, which allows you to connect the capital of Bolivia with other countries by air. Air carriers are represented mainly by private companies. And this significantly affects the cost of the flight. For example, to travel by air from Sucre to La Paz, you need to pay as much as $125.

Connection

Communications in Sucre, as in Bolivia in general, are excellent. Several mobile operators have coverage not only throughout the city, but also in suburban areas. Some of them support roaming of European major cellular companies.

City telephone communications are provided by numerous street telephones, from which you can call any country in the world. At the same time, you need to pay about $1 per minute for such a call. If you use a hotel phone number, the cost of the call will be $1.3.

The Internet connection in Sucre also has a wide coverage area. Numerous Internet cafes provide wireless Internet services. The connection speed is quite decent. True, the cost of half an hour of using the Internet is approximately $3.

Safety

Sucre is considered one of the safest cities in Bolivia. When visiting this city, do not forget about the basic rules of being in public places. It is in places with large crowds of people that unpleasant incidents of fraud and theft often occur.

Before arriving in the country, you should definitely get several required preventive vaccinations.

Business climate

Recently, Sucre has begun to increasingly attract foreign tourists, so running a hotel business in this city is becoming quite relevant. At the same time, local authorities do not prohibit foreign citizens from carrying out any such activities. On the contrary, they are trying to help attract numerous investments into the city's economy.

Real estate

The real estate market in Sucre is one of the most expensive in Bolivia. In a prestigious area, the cost of an average apartment of 100 m2 is about $100,000, while in suburban areas luxury mansions with adjacent land of a couple of hectares will cost only $50,000.

Legally, there are no difficulties in completing such a purchase in Sucre. On the contrary, when foreign citizens purchase real estate, local authorities provide a unique opportunity to obtain Bolivian citizenship without any problems.

Be sure to wash food purchased from local street stores thoroughly before eating.

When communicating with local residents, and especially with Indian tribes, remember to treat them with great respect. Photography and videotaping here is only permitted with the permission of local authorities.

When traveling through the city streets of Sucre in a rented car, you should be especially careful. Local residents often simply ignore existing traffic rules, so it is better to pay a few dollars and hire a personal driver.