Caracas (Santiago de León de Caracas) is the largest city in the country of Venezuela. It is considered a cultural and economic center and is also the capital. Today, the city by the sea has more than 2.1 million inhabitants.
In 1498, Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach the coast of Caracas. The colony founded there is the origin of the city. Around 1750, the city flourished due to the increasing export of cocoa - today, Caracas is primarily the financial and industrial center of Venezuela. The main industries: textile, leather, machinery, automotive and metal.
Caracas is a city that looks back on an eventful history. During the War of Independence, the city was reconquered by the Spanish in 1811 and again in 1814. In 1821, it was once again liberated and incorporated into the former Republic of Greater Colombia. The city is also known for numerous seismic activities and a high crime rate.
However, Caracas also offers numerous attractions in the urban area and in the surrounding borderlands, such as El Ávila National Park.