ATTRACTIONS

There are no reasons to hurry. Potosi has to be known slowly, calmly and even with certain laxity. Only this way one would be able to avoid the perverse rigours of its height. This simple caution will allow you to know every corner of the Imperial Village. You could even enter in one of its historical mines, in which you could have the chance of talking with the men that hole obstinately the bowel of the earth searching for silver.

The city is characterized by its Baroque architecture, its many churches, monasteries, palaces and mansions that adorn the narrow and paved streets.

In the department of Potosi is located the impressive Salar de Uyuni that has become one of the main tourist attractions in Bolivia. With 12,000 square kilometres in extension, the place is a white sea of salt surrounded by a chain of mountains.

In your stay in Potosi, you can visit the following places:

Cerro Rico: "Do not take silver from this mountain, it is meant for another person", was prophesized by the spirit of the majestic mountain to the men of the Inca Huayna Capac who were looking for the mineral. Years later, the Spaniards arrived to Potosi and the adage was fulfilled. The conquerors began to enrich themselves with the silver and tin of Cerro Rico.

Eternal guardian of the city, Cerro Rico is crossed by 5,000 mine entrances and tunnels, many of which are interconnected, forming intricate labyrinths.

Casa Real De La Moneda: In opinion of many art historians, it is the most important building in the colonial architecture of South America. Its construction began in 1750 and concluded in 1773. The works were in charge of the manufacturer and architect Salvador de Vila. This mansion -considered a national monument- occupies a square and treasures valuable samples of paintings and sculptures; besides furniture and other objects of artistic or historical interest.

The biggest attractions in this house -turned into a museum- are the lamination machines used to wedge coins, the main oven for silver foundry and the collection of dies for coining money. A picturesque detail is the smiling polychrome mask that is at the entrance and that was placed there at the beginning of the War of Independence, with the intention of covering a royal plate.

Temple of San Lorenzo: It has a really attractive cover of two bodies. The temple, changed by the middle of the 18th century, shows in its interior an ornamented arch of half point in which will see two remarkable naked feminine figures called indiátides.

Temple of Copacabana: it was built in the 17th century and is reputed by its Mudejar style and its wooden dome. Its cover of manierista style deserves to be seen, as does its major stone altarpiece.

Other churches that deserve to be visited are: San Martin, San Benito, La Merced and Santa Teresa.

Lagunas Artificiales: In 1575, Viceroy Toledo ordered to build several artificial reservoirs east of the city that would be useful to accumulate water during the rainy season to use them in the dry periods. The main reservoirs are: Chaviri, San Sabastián, Pisco Cocha, San Idelfonso and Laccka Chaca.

Toro Toro: These caverns, located northwest of Potosi, have ancient paintings, prints of saurian, fossils, tips of lances and other archaeological remnants.

Salar de Uyuni: With an extension of 12,000 square kilometers, the Salar de Uyuni, also known as the "Alaska of Bolivia ", is located in a deserted region southwest of the country, between the departments of Potosi and Oruro. The color of its deserts, its volcanic lands and fabulous lagoons, are not only nice-looking but unrivalled.

The lagoons are part of the Eduardo Avaroa National Park and have the singular characteristic of changing color according to the time of the day. But the beauty of these mirrors of water go further on. In the Laguna Colorada or Nido de los Andes, there are more than 30,000 flamingos of three varieties; you can also see vizcachas, geisers and volcanic wells.

Isla Lomo de Pescado: is a beautiful cactus and coral island, with remains of old civilizations.