La Asunción

La Asunción


The first settlers arrived in the area of La Asunción in 1562, after they had fled from other areas that had been under attack by pirates. Unfortunately, the pirates found them and destroyed their town. In 1565, they re-established the town as La Asunción.

Points of interest
  • The Assemblea Legislativa (Legislative Assembly) is housed in a former Franciscan monastery that once served as a hospital and as a prison. It features a sundial, known as the Relox Equinoccia Inferior, which was installed there in 1612.
  • The Casa de Juan Bautista Arismendi was the birthplace of Juan Bautista Arismendi. The building has been restored and is now a museum, dedicated to the hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence. He was married to Luisa Caceres de Arismendi, who was a heroine of the Venezuelan War of Independence.
  • The Casa Capitular was once the seat of the colonial government, the city hall and the prison. It was the location, where Margarita's Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in 1810. The building has been converted and houses the Museum Nueva Cádiz, a gallery and a library.
  • The Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture) displays a collection of pre-Columbian pottery. It also includes a theater. The building is located opposite the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption.
  • The Castillo Santa Rosa de la Eminencia (Santa Rosa of the Eminence Castle) was built between 1677 and 1683 to protect the city from further attacks by pirates. In 1816, upon the arrival of Simón Bolívar, the retreating Spanish partly destroyed the castle. It was subsequently restored between 1818 and 1821 and again in 1901. The fortress was abandoned in 1935. Nowadays it serves as a war museum. The fortress sits at a prominent location on a hill and it dominates La Asunción. The fortress offers excellent views over the city.
  • Construction of the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de La Asunción (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption) started in 1570. French Lutherans destroyed the unfinished building and by 1602, only ruins remained. It was reconstructed between 1609 and 1621. The cathedral is located on Plaza Bolívar.
  • The Convent of San Francisco is connected to the Santa Rosa Castle by a tunnel.
  • The Museo Nueva Cádiz (Museum Nueva Cádiz) is housed in the Casa Capitular, which was once the seat of the colonial government, as well as a city hall. The museum has a collection of pre-colonial artefacts and it also exhibits local handicrafts. One of the museum's highlights is a sculpture of the tyrant Lope de Aguirre, who terrorized the local population in 1561.
  • The Palacio Municipal (Municipal Palace) is located behind the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. It houses the offices of the state government.
  • The Parque Nacional Cerro El Copey (Cerro El Copey National Park) is home to numerous animal species, including several endemic ones. The island of Margarita was connected to the mainland until the Pleistocene and many of its animal species are typical continental, unlike those on other islands in the region. The park is located about 5 km to the southwest of town.
  • The Plaza de La Asunción (Square of the Assumption) comprises 2 sections. The southern part of the square is known as Plaza Simón Bolívar (Simón Bolívar Square) and the northern part is named for Luisa Caceres de Arismendi, who was a heroine of the Venezuelan War of Independence. Her statue is located there.
  • The building of the Police in La Asunción is a beautifully restored Colonial house.
There are several hotels and restaurants in La Asunción. The city is located in a fertile valley in the eastern part of Margarita Island.

Hotels in La Asunción

Images


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