Quick search
CTRL+K
Quick search
CTRL+K
La Paz is a city that captivates visitors with its dramatic landscapes high in the Andes Mountains, vibrant culture, and rich history. As the administrative capital of Bolivia, La Paz is a bustling metropolis that blends the old with the new. From its markets and colonial architecture to its modern constructions and thriving nightlife, La Paz offers a unique experience for every traveler. The city is in an altitude at over 3,600 meters above sea level, and it gives a fresh and cool climate in breathtaking surroundings with mountain views.
La Paz was founded on October 20, 1548, by the Spanish conquistador Alonso de Mendoza. The city was established in the valley of the Choqueyapu River, which was a strategic location that provided access to the rich silver mines of Potosí. Originally named Our Lady of Peace/Nuestra Señora de La Paz, the new city was intended to commemorate the restoration of peace following a civil war among Spanish settlers. The early years of La Paz were marked by its role as a key trading post and administrative center in the Spanish colonial empire.
During the colonial period, La Paz grew in importance as a commercial and administrative center. The city’s economy was heavily influenced by the mining industry, with silver from Potosí being transported through La Paz on its way to the Pacific coast. The wealth generated by mining led to the construction of grand churches, government buildings, and mansions, many of which still stand today as a testament to the city’s colonial past. La Paz also became a center of cultural and intellectual activity, attracting scholars, artists, and writers from across the Spanish Empire.
The 19th and 20th centuries brought significant changes to La Paz as Bolivia gained independence from Spain and began to develop as a modern nation. The city played a central role in Bolivia’s political and social transformations, witnessing numerous uprisings, revolutions, and reforms. In the modern era, La Paz has continued to evolve, becoming a dynamic city that reflects the diverse heritage of its people. Today, La Paz is known for its innovative public transportation system, including the world’s highest urban cable car network, and its arts and cultural scene.
Plaza Murillo is many ways the heart of Bolivia. It is home to large parts of daily life in La Paz, and it is here, you will find major sights as the Presidential Palace, the National Congress, and the Cathedral of La Paz. It’s a historic square and also a great starting point for exploring the surrounding historic district, with its narrow streets and colonial-era buildings.
Plaza Murillo has been the center of the city’s political and social life since its establishment in 1558. It was designed by Juan Gutiérrez Paniagua as a part of the original rectilinear grid of La Paz, created to organize the city on the north bank of the Choqueyapu River. Initially it was called Plaza Mayor, and it was known as Plaza de Armas during the colonial period as many other square throughout the Spanish Empire.
The square is surrounded by some of the most important and architecturally significant buildings in Bolivia. The Presidential Palace, which is also known as Palacio Quemado, is a prominent edifice. It was built in the 19th century and a blend of baroque and neoclassical architectural styles. The palace has been the official residence of the President of Bolivia and a symbol of political power.
The National Congress of Bolivia is another prominent building. It houses the legislative branch of the government. The Congress building, with its neoclassical façade, adds to the grandeur of the plaza, as does the The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, commonly known as the Cathedral of La Paz. The cathedral was completed in 1835, and it features a combination of neoclassical and baroque elements as well.
Mi Teleférico is an extensive public transport cable car system that offers great views of La Paz from above. It’s a unique and efficient way to navigate the city, connecting various neighborhoods like trams or subways in other cities, and providing a scenic ride. The system consists of multiple lines, each offering a different perspective of the city and its surroundings and connecting different sights.
Riding Mi Teleférico allows you to see the sprawling cityscape, the surrounding mountains, and the vibrant life below. And you can get off when you want to explore an area below the cable cars. It’s not just a mode of transportation but a tourist attraction in itself.
Mi Teleférico, inaugurated on May 30, 2014, was developed to address transportation challenges between La Paz to the east and El Alto to the west, which are separated by a steep elevation difference. The project was initially launched with three lines: Red, Yellow, and Green. It has since expanded to more lines to cover more parts of the Bolivian city.
Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de La Paz or simply the Cathedral of La Paz has a rich history dating back to Bolivia’s colonial period. The original cathedral was completed in 1692 after 70 years of construction, but it was demolished in 1831 due to structural problems. This made way for the current cathedral, which was built from 1835. The inauguration took place in 1925 to mark the 100th anniversary of Bolivia’s independence. Although the cathedral formally opened in 1925, the decoration of the interior continued until 1932, and in 1989 the two lateral towers were opened for the visit of Pope John Paul II.
The cathedral is an impressive example of neoclassical architecture with Baroque elements. The beautiful church is located in Plaza Murillo, the central square of La Paz. It is known for its magnificent facade and fine decoration. The building consists of five naves, and the architectural impression reflects both European influence and local Bolivian craftsmanship.
During a visit, you can see an impressive collection of religious artwork and icons under the high vaults. Among other things, there are detailed frescoes that create an atmosphere of tranquility and devotion. You can also see a chapel where the remains of Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz, who was a general and president of first Peru and later Bolivia, are buried. The many works of art and the rich architecture make the cathedral an important religious center and one of the city’s major attractions.
Palacio de Gobierno, which means Government Palace, was for many years the official presidential palace of Bolivia. It is also known as Palacio Quemado, and it has a fascinating history. Originally built in the 19th century, the building has witnessed many of Bolivia’s political upheavals. The name Palacio Quemado means Burnt Palace and comes from a fire in 1875 that destroyed much of the building during a political uprising. Since then, the palace has been rebuilt and renovated several times, and today it serves as the residence of the President of Bolivia.
Architecturally, the Palacio de Gobierno is an impressive building that combines neoclassical and baroque elements. The facade is decorated with columns and details that reflect both European influence and local traditions. The large entrance gate and symmetrical windows give the building a majestic appearance, while the interior spaces are decorated with works of art and furniture that reflect Bolivia’s rich cultural heritage. The palace is a symbol of the country’s history and culture and stands as a testament to Bolivia’s political development.
One of the most striking features of the Government Palace is the grand staircase that leads to the upper floors. The staircase is adorned with beautiful murals depicting important moments in Bolivian history. In addition, the palace’s courtyard is a peaceful place with fountains and green areas where visitors can enjoy a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. The palace is located on Plaza Murillo, a popular gathering point in La Paz and home to several other historic buildings. Today, it is open as a museum and is a must-see when visiting the city.
Palacio Legislativo is the formal name for the building that houses the National Congress in La Paz. The building was built at the beginning of the 20th century and has been the center of Bolivia’s legislative power ever since. It is located in Plaza Murillo, an important political and historical center of La Paz. The National Congress has witnessed many of the country’s political upheavals and is a symbol of Bolivia’s democratic development.
Architecturally, the Palacio Legislativo is an impressive building that combines neoclassical and baroque elements, as is the case with other buildings around Plaza Murillo. The facade is decorated with columns and details, and the symmetry of the building and the large windows give it a majestic appearance. The large dome that crowns the building is a distinctive feature that can be seen from many places in the city.
One of the most noteworthy features of the National Congress are the beautiful murals and frescoes that adorn the interior walls. These works of art depict important moments in Bolivian history and were created by some of the country’s most renowned artists. In addition to these historical highlights, the building’s rooms and halls are impressive, as is the staircase leading to the upper floors, where visitors can gain further insight into the building’s magnificent architecture.
Palacio Consistorial de La Paz is the Spanish name for the City Hall of La Paz, and as such it is the main administrative building for the city government of the Bolivian metropolis. It is here that the City Council of La Paz holds meetings, and the mayor’s office is also located in this beautiful building.
The Palacio Consistorial was designed in 1925 by the architect and urban planner Emilio Villanueva Peñaranda, and the city hall was inaugurated on July 16, 1926. It was designed in the Beaux-Arts style, inspired by the Hôtel de Ville in Paris. The current city hall replaced the city’s previous one, which had been lost in a fire.
Mirador de Killi Killi is a viewpoint and park close to the center of La Paz. From the viewing terraces, you get an almost 360° view of the Bolivian government building, and from here you can see, among other things, the old part of the city, the modern high-rise buildings and the nature and mountains around La Paz.
Mirador de Killi Killi is located on a mountaintop with an altitude of 3,718 meters above sea level, and it is approximately 150 meters above the nearby buildings. The fantastic location has historically not only been used by tourists, as the place already housed various ceremonies in the pre-Hispanic period.
Museo Nacional de Arte is Bolivia’s national art museum, and it offers fine collections of art from the Spanish colonial period through the 18th century. There are, for example, works by Gregorio Gamarra and Gaspar Miguel de Berrío, and you can also see Bolivian, South American and international art here.
The museum is housed in the Palacio Diez de Medina building, which was, among other things, the residence of the mayor Don Francisco Tadeo Diez de Medina y Vidango in the late 18th century. Nobles have also lived here, just as the beautiful building has been a hotel before it became a museum in 1964.
Museo Nacional de Etnografia y Folklore is the right place to visit if you want to learn more about Bolivian folklore and many of the country’s traditions. The history of the museum dates back to the founding of the country’s national museum in 1925, while the museum itself was opened in 1962. This happened in the beautiful old palace of the Marquises of Villaverde; Palacio de los Marqueses de Villaverde.
The museum’s rich collections consist of many different effects within a wide range. There are, among other things, pre-Columbian artifacts, colonial and contemporary relics, masks, ceramics, textiles, feather art and numismatics from Bolivian territory. The museum also has a colossal collection of audiovisual material from the country’s history.
It is believed that the palace building in its original style was built around 1730. It was acquired by a noblewoman in the 1750s, who converted the purchased property into a residence in the colonial architecture of the time. The residence has hosted many events, such as the reception of Governor Sebastián de Segurola in 1781, and from here the city was governed during a siege by the indigenous population.
Chualluma is a neighborhood in La Paz, located a little west of the old city center. It is literally a colorful area, which you can clearly see if you take a ride on the red line of the city’s Teleferico. Then you can clearly see the many houses painted in blue, green, yellow, orange, among other colors, right under the cable car on the way to El Alto.
Chualluma is a neighborhood that looks great in pictures with its many colors and large murals. However, the neighborhood is also the story of Bolivian culture. It was the Bolivian Knorke Leaf who was behind the new tourist attraction, which was created over a few months in 2019. The colors are a colossal work of art that was created in a once tough neighborhood as a revitalization, and the local residents actively participated in the collaboration with professional artists, and the result is beautiful.
There is no Teleferico station in Chualluma, but it is not far, and when you are in the neighborhood, you just have to experience the urban art. Every time you turn a street corner, there are new visual impressions that come into your mind. And if you don’t have the time or opportunity to walk, you can also get a fantastic impression from above with the cable car.
El Mercado de las Brujas or Witches’ Market is a popular and for most people very different tourist attraction, located in Cerro Cumbre in La Paz. What is special about the market is that it is run by local witch doctors, locally known as yatiri. They sell potions, dried frogs, medicinal plants such as retama and armadillos, which are some of the items used in traditional Bolivian rituals.
When you walk around the market, you can easily spot the local witch doctors. They can be identified by their black hats and coca bags, which contain amulets, talismans and powder that promise luck, beauty and fertility. A frequently sold product at the market is dried llama fetuses, which locals bury under the foundations of Bolivian houses as a sacred offering to the goddess Pachamama.
Museo de la Coca is a small museum in central La Paz that conveys the history of the coca plant. Coca is also known as Erythroxylum coca, and it grows in northwestern South America. The coca plant is of course notorious in many parts of the world, as the narcotic cocaine is extracted from the plant’s leaves.
The museum describes, among other things, the path from the plant to cocaine. The site was founded in 1996 by Jorge Hurtado Gumucio and Roxana Miranda, and is today affiliated with the International Coca Research Institute in Bolivia.
Plaza Mayor de San Francisco is one of the largest squares in La Paz, and it is also one of the popular meeting places for the city’s population, who can visit the Lanza Market/Mercado Lanza at the northern end of the square, among other things. The square gets its name from the Basilica de San Francisco church, which is the most famous building on the address.
The history of the square goes back a long way in the Bolivian metropolis. Pre-Columbian remains have been found during excavations, and the square was originally intended as Plaza Mayor during the colonial Spanish founding period. However, this did not happen, but the square became important with the location of a monastery with an associated church.
Due to the dimensions and central location of Plaza Mayor de San Francisco, important political, civic and festive events take place here. These include concerts, for example, but over the centuries the square has also been the scene of major political demonstrations.
Basilica de San Francisco is one of the most important churches in La Paz. The original Franciscan church was built as a monastery church from 1549, which was the same year as the founding of a monastery dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. Construction of the first version of the church and monastery continued until 1581.
However, the first church collapsed in the early 1700s due to a major snowfall. The current building is the replacement for the old monastery church on the site, and it was built from 1743-1744. In 1753 the church’s dome and roof structure were completed, and in 1758 the new church was consecrated.
The facade decoration was added at the end of the 18th century, and the church tower was built about a hundred years later. The architectural style of the church is mainly the so-called Andean Baroque, which was a regional Baroque variant that was used from the late 17th century to the end of the 18th century.
The basilica’s ground plan is a Latin cross, and the church’s roof is vaulted. The facade is three-part and richly decorated with columns, plinths and niches. You can also see the symbol of the Franciscan Order and symbols representing the local fauna and flora. The church room is impressive and stands as one of La Paz’s most impressive rooms.
Centro Cultural Museo San Francisco is a cultural institution housed in the monastery and church complex of San Francisco. The museum was established with the aim of preserving art and history related to the monastery and basilica, which are closely linked to the history of La Paz. The Franciscan monastery was thus established the year after the city itself was founded.
The monastery with the monastery church Basilica de San Francisco was built between 1549 and 1581, but this building complex was destroyed between 1608 and 1612, and therefore the current buildings were built as replacements. This mainly happened from 1743 to 1753, and in the mid-20th century parts of the monastery were adapted as the current museum.
The museum has some fine collections of religious art created by Bolivia’s indigenous people. They are, among other things, made in the so-called Andean Baroque, which originated in Peru and spread from there from the late 17th century. Among the fine works are the Crown of Thorns/Coronación de Espinas and the Crucifixion/La Crucifixion from the 17th century and the Miracle of the Apples/Milagro de las Manzanas from the 18th century.
La Paz, Bolivia[/caption]
Overview of La Paz
La Paz is a city that captivates visitors with its dramatic landscapes high in the Andes Mountains, vibrant culture, and rich history. As the administrative capital of Bolivia, La Paz is a bustling metropolis that blends the old with the new. From its markets and colonial architecture to its modern constructions and thriving nightlife, La Paz offers a unique experience for every traveler. The city is in an altitude at over 3,600 meters above sea level, and it gives a fresh and cool climate in breathtaking surroundings with mountain views.
About the Whitehorse travel guide
Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English
About the travel guide
The Whitehorse travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Canadian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Whitehorse is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Whitehorse and Canada
Canada Travel Guide: https://vamados.com/canada
City tourism: https://visitwhite-horse.ca
Main Page: https://www.vamados.com/
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Whitehorse you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
Palacio Consistorial de La Paz is the Spanish name for the City Hall of La Paz, and as such it is the main administrative building for the city government of the Bolivian metropolis. It is here that the City Council of La Paz holds meetings, and the mayor’s office is also located in this beautiful building.
The Palacio Consistorial was designed in 1925 by the architect and urban planner Emilio Villanueva Peñaranda, and the city hall was inaugurated on July 16, 1926. It was designed in the Beaux-Arts style, inspired by the Hôtel de Ville in Paris. The current city hall replaced the city’s previous one, which had been lost in a fire.
Mirador de Killi Killi is a viewpoint and park close to the center of La Paz. From the viewing terraces, you get an almost 360° view of the Bolivian government building, and from here you can see, among other things, the old part of the city, the modern high-rise buildings and the nature and mountains around La Paz.
Mirador de Killi Killi is located on a mountaintop with an altitude of 3,718 meters above sea level, and it is approximately 150 meters above the nearby buildings. The fantastic location has historically not only been used by tourists, as the place already housed various ceremonies in the pre-Hispanic period.
Museo Nacional de Arte is Bolivia’s national art museum, and it offers fine collections of art from the Spanish colonial period through the 18th century. There are, for example, works by Gregorio Gamarra and Gaspar Miguel de Berrío, and you can also see Bolivian, South American and international art here.
The museum is housed in the Palacio Diez de Medina building, which was, among other things, the residence of the mayor Don Francisco Tadeo Diez de Medina y Vidango in the late 18th century. Nobles have also lived here, just as the beautiful building has been a hotel before it became a museum in 1964.
Museo Nacional de Etnografia y Folklore is the right place to visit if you want to learn more about Bolivian folklore and many of the country’s traditions. The history of the museum dates back to the founding of the country’s national museum in 1925, while the museum itself was opened in 1962. This happened in the beautiful old palace of the Marquises of Villaverde; Palacio de los Marqueses de Villaverde.
The museum’s rich collections consist of many different effects within a wide range. There are, among other things, pre-Columbian artifacts, colonial and contemporary relics, masks, ceramics, textiles, feather art and numismatics from Bolivian territory. The museum also has a colossal collection of audiovisual material from the country’s history.
It is believed that the palace building in its original style was built around 1730. It was acquired by a noblewoman in the 1750s, who converted the purchased property into a residence in the colonial architecture of the time. The residence has hosted many events, such as the reception of Governor Sebastián de Segurola in 1781, and from here the city was governed during a siege by the indigenous population.
Chualluma is a neighborhood in La Paz, located a little west of the old city center. It is literally a colorful area, which you can clearly see if you take a ride on the red line of the city’s Teleferico. Then you can clearly see the many houses painted in blue, green, yellow, orange, among other colors, right under the cable car on the way to El Alto.
Chualluma is a neighborhood that looks great in pictures with its many colors and large murals. However, the neighborhood is also the story of Bolivian culture. It was the Bolivian Knorke Leaf who was behind the new tourist attraction, which was created over a few months in 2019. The colors are a colossal work of art that was created in a once tough neighborhood as a revitalization, and the local residents actively participated in the collaboration with professional artists, and the result is beautiful.
There is no Teleferico station in Chualluma, but it is not far, and when you are in the neighborhood, you just have to experience the urban art. Every time you turn a street corner, there are new visual impressions that come into your mind. And if you don’t have the time or opportunity to walk, you can also get a fantastic impression from above with the cable car.
El Mercado de las Brujas or Witches’ Market is a popular and for most people very different tourist attraction, located in Cerro Cumbre in La Paz. What is special about the market is that it is run by local witch doctors, locally known as yatiri. They sell potions, dried frogs, medicinal plants such as retama and armadillos, which are some of the items used in traditional Bolivian rituals.
When you walk around the market, you can easily spot the local witch doctors. They can be identified by their black hats and coca bags, which contain amulets, talismans and powder that promise luck, beauty and fertility. A frequently sold product at the market is dried llama fetuses, which locals bury under the foundations of Bolivian houses as a sacred offering to the goddess Pachamama.
Museo de la Coca is a small museum in central La Paz that conveys the history of the coca plant. Coca is also known as Erythroxylum coca, and it grows in northwestern South America. The coca plant is of course notorious in many parts of the world, as the narcotic cocaine is extracted from the plant’s leaves.
The museum describes, among other things, the path from the plant to cocaine. The site was founded in 1996 by Jorge Hurtado Gumucio and Roxana Miranda, and is today affiliated with the International Coca Research Institute in Bolivia.
Plaza Mayor de San Francisco is one of the largest squares in La Paz, and it is also one of the popular meeting places for the city’s population, who can visit the Lanza Market/Mercado Lanza at the northern end of the square, among other things. The square gets its name from the Basilica de San Francisco church, which is the most famous building on the address.
The history of the square goes back a long way in the Bolivian metropolis. Pre-Columbian remains have been found during excavations, and the square was originally intended as Plaza Mayor during the colonial Spanish founding period. However, this did not happen, but the square became important with the location of a monastery with an associated church.
Due to the dimensions and central location of Plaza Mayor de San Francisco, important political, civic and festive events take place here. These include concerts, for example, but over the centuries the square has also been the scene of major political demonstrations.
Basilica de San Francisco is one of the most important churches in La Paz. The original Franciscan church was built as a monastery church from 1549, which was the same year as the founding of a monastery dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. Construction of the first version of the church and monastery continued until 1581.
However, the first church collapsed in the early 1700s due to a major snowfall. The current building is the replacement for the old monastery church on the site, and it was built from 1743-1744. In 1753 the church’s dome and roof structure were completed, and in 1758 the new church was consecrated.
The facade decoration was added at the end of the 18th century, and the church tower was built about a hundred years later. The architectural style of the church is mainly the so-called Andean Baroque, which was a regional Baroque variant that was used from the late 17th century to the end of the 18th century.
The basilica’s ground plan is a Latin cross, and the church’s roof is vaulted. The facade is three-part and richly decorated with columns, plinths and niches. You can also see the symbol of the Franciscan Order and symbols representing the local fauna and flora. The church room is impressive and stands as one of La Paz’s most impressive rooms.
Centro Cultural Museo San Francisco is a cultural institution housed in the monastery and church complex of San Francisco. The museum was established with the aim of preserving art and history related to the monastery and basilica, which are closely linked to the history of La Paz. The Franciscan monastery was thus established the year after the city itself was founded.
The monastery with the monastery church Basilica de San Francisco was built between 1549 and 1581, but this building complex was destroyed between 1608 and 1612, and therefore the current buildings were built as replacements. This mainly happened from 1743 to 1753, and in the mid-20th century parts of the monastery were adapted as the current museum.
The museum has some fine collections of religious art created by Bolivia’s indigenous people. They are, among other things, made in the so-called Andean Baroque, which originated in Peru and spread from there from the late 17th century. Among the fine works are the Crown of Thorns/Coronación de Espinas and the Crucifixion/La Crucifixion from the 17th century and the Miracle of the Apples/Milagro de las Manzanas from the 18th century.
Similar to La Paz Travel Guide
