Founded in 1567 as Santiago de León de Caracas by Diego Losada, plundered by English pirates, burned, torn by earthquakes, Caracas nevertheless has grown into the political, economic and cultural capital of Venezuela.
Separated from the coastline by 7800 ft. Mt. Avila, the colonial city nestled in a long, green valley surrounded by lushly forested mountains.
It has long since outgrown that small settlement, stretching the length of the valley, up the hillsides and into intersecting canyons. High rises, modern buildings of glass and steel, parade along downtown streets, while mountains and city parks provide respite from traffic and the bustle of the city.
Like big cities everywhere, you'll find a central commercial district, outlying suburbs and pockets of older neighborhoods. In Caracas, much of the city revolves around the tree-shaded Plaza Bolivar, named of course for Simón Bolívar, El Libertador, with a monument to him.