The capital and largest city of Venezuela; Also called: capital of Venezuela.
Chief city and capital of Venezuela, situated on the slopes of the Andes Mountains, 13 km/8 mi S of its port La Guaira on the Caribbean coast; population of metropolitan area (1989) 3,373,100. It is now a large industrial and commercial center, notably for oil companies, developed since the 1950s.
history
Founded by the Spanish in 1567 and sacked by the English in 1595, the city was destroyed by earthquakes in 1755 and 1812. It was expanded from the 1940s.
features
Colonial buildings around the Plaza Bolívar, including the cathedral and the birthplace of Simon Bolívar; Central University of Venezuela, founded in 1725.