POTOSI

A city located at higher altitude in the world (4,070 meters). It was founded in 1545 by the Spanish conquerors and is undoubtedly one of the rare places on the planet. Its cobblestone streets kept the thick and finely worked colonial buildings. For them, Potosi was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

It lies at the foot of Cerro Rico, a hill full of silver and zinc mines that cemented the Spanish conquest of wealth and currently continues to operate. Thanks to its argentífera untold wealth generated an enormous wealth very quickly, turning to Potosi in one of the largest cities in the world in the colonial era, with a population of over 200,000 inhabitants. There is an expression in Spanish, coined by Miguel de Cervantes: "Vale a Potosi", which refers precisely to this wealth.

According to official records, 45,000 tons were extracted from Cerro Rico of pure silver between 1556 and 1783. Tradition says that the Spanish conquistadors found an incredible amount of money, enough to build a bridge from Potosi to Europe. During the beginning of the nineteenth century, the battles for independence much of the wealth, it also exists in the church was looted or moved to Europe or to other parts of Spanish rule. By then, the population fell to fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. By the time of independence in 1825, the mines were almost completely depleted.

The places to visit in the city are the Cathedral, the Mint, the museum and Convent of Santa Teresa, and the churches of the Company, San Francisco, San Martín, San Augustine and San Cristobal. Everything is within the quadrant of the city center, around the Plaza Nov. 10.

In Potosi colorful festivals are held relating to mining activities, and religious, both of which are related to the Pachamama. Every weekend in May, provides a flame as an offering at the foot of Cerro Rico, in October is the Feast of Culture, and in February the Carnival Miner. For Corpus Christi, on June 14, or November 1, All Saints' Day, there are celebrations.

Visit the mines of Cerro Rico is a unique experience, accompanied by a guide, these miners will show you the various seams inside caves and mines, where you can see the statues that represent the "Uncle", which protects the devil Miners in exchange for cigarettes and coca leaves. If you do not feel capable of inmates in these obscurities (the dangers are minimal), try to do the same ritual that Indians carry out every day at work: sit for half an hour to chew coca leaves to gain energy.

Do not forget that long before becoming a powerful and corrosive drug, coca leaves have been used as food and provide energy to these people who habit in high altitudes.

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