Cochabamba

History

In 1542 a group of Spanish colonizers settled in the Kjocha-Pampa valley. Ten years later, on August 2nd, 1571, by orders of viceroy Toledo the new city was founded under the name of Villa de Oropeza in honor of the viceroy whose title was Count of Oropeza. Three years later, on January 1st, 1574 the nominal foundation was made by Sebastián Barba de Padilla under orders of viceroy Toledo too. The new city was established along the shores of the Rocha river. From the early days of its existence, the valley showed hints of its natural wealth. At the height of Potosí's silver boom, thanks to its wheat and corn production as well as its cattle abundance, the valley became the source of food for the miners in Potosí as well as for other nearby regions. When Potosí's boom declined in the early 18th century, so did the demand for Cochabamba's products. By the mid-19th century, however, the economic crisis faded away and the city gained back its position as the nation's granary. Currently, Cochabamba is a progressive and economically active city.

Climate

Cochabamba lies in a fertile valley at 2,558 meters above sea level, surrounded by the Tunari hill, the Alalay lagoon and the San Sebastian hill. Its weather is mild and pleasant. It is considered the best in the whole country, with warm-sunny days and cool nights. the average temperature in winter is about 17 C (61 Fahrenheit). In summer the average temperature is 26 C (78 Fahrenheit). By November 1996, according to data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) Cochabamba had 482,857 inhabitants.

How to Get There

By land:

• From Sucre: 366 Km by rubble road
• From La Paz: 382 Km by asphalt road
• From Oruro: 212 Km by asphalt road
• From Santa Cruz: 469 Km by rubble and asphalt road

By air:

From any main city in the country through the following airlines: LAB, AEROSUR, and TAM.

Main Attractions

	El Cristo de la Concordia: Immense statute of Jesus Christ. Higher than the Cristo del Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. A great view of the city is offered from the top of the monument.
	La Coronilla: This hill depicts a monument dedicated to courageous women who defended the city from the Spanish forces in 1812, during the struggles for independence.
	Palacio Portales: Located in the zone of Queru-Queru this building, provides evidence of the great wealth of tin baron Simón I. Patiño. Most of the material used to build the house was imported from imported. Construction works began in 1915 and were completed by 1927. Today this beautiful place serves as an art museum and cultural center.
	Pairumani: (Also known as Villa Albina) Owned also by Simón Patiño, the mausoleum in this outstanding mansion contains the remains of Patiño and his wife Albina.
	The Cathedral: Located in the Plaza 14 de Septiembre, this cathedral was built in 1571. It houses original frescos and paintings.
	Other Churches: San Francisco, Santa Teresa, Santo Domingo, La Recoleta
	Museo Arqueológico: Exhibits artifacts dating from ancient times as well as from the colonial period.
	Casa de la Cultura: Exhibits discoveries from a pre-Inca burial site. Also displays art works and reading material.

Content:

See also the following related sections:

WHERE TO GO?
Index of Cities:

Cobija
Cochabamba
La Paz
Oruro
Potosí
Santa Cruz
Sucre
Tarija
Trinidad

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