The constitutional capital of Bolivia, Sucre is a warm and welcoming city located in the Andean foothills in the south-west Bolivia, where it enjoys a pleasant year-round climate. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sucre’s historic centre is notable for its beautiful architecture, charming plazas, and manicured gardens. The city abounds in history, and is a great starting point for any trip to Bolivia.
In the Andean highlands approx. 3 hours south of Sucre is found Potosi. Once the wealthiest city in the whole of the Americas, modern Potosi is an unassuming city compared to its nearest neighbour. Indeed, to the extent that Sucre was the symbol of Spanish Imperial wealth and power in Bolivia, Potosi was the coalface, both literally and figuratively, where the wealth reflected in Sucre’s stunning streets and monuments was mined and sequestered. It was here that the Spanish discovered the Cerro Rico, or “Rich Hill”, whose mineral wealth funded the Spanish empire for years to come. This history can be explored on tours of Potosi’s mining tunnels, which offer a fascinating insight into this era.
In and around Sucre and Potosi, Bolivia
There are several excellent museums in Sucre, which provide an insight into the Colonial era and also into Bolivia’s indigenous Aymaran people and their traditions. Sucre boasts some rather more unusual sites, too, such as the nearby Parque Cretacico, or Dinosaur Park, where the largest collection of dinosaur footprints in the world have been uncovered. Elsewhere, in the hills surrounding Sucre, there are Indian villages and plenty of hiking routes to discover.
Potosi’s history can be explored on a tour of the Cerro Rico mining tunnels and the Casa de Moneda, or the Spanish mint, which now serves as a museum elaborating on the history of the region and the era of Spanish rule.
Potosi serves as a gateway to the high Andes and the Uyuni Salt Flats, in the south-western corner of Bolivia.
