Colonial City,Potosí

Discover the grand colonial architectural heritage of Potosi . This city dates from the days when this, the world’s highest city, was larger than London or Paris. Ones the richest city from South- America, this is because of thesilver mines. Its streets paved with antique paving tones, balconies in fine cored wood.The main entrances to the mansions and palaces show family shields in granite, the churches and temples are nature art work. Example:San Lorenzo Church, style barroco ,Mezstizo is probably one of the most photographed subjects in Bolivia, altar covers forged gold. Potosí is a wonderful city that offers different tourist attractions. Visit LA CASA DE LA MONEDA (Royal Mint). Where is to control the minting colonial coins right where the metal was mined. These coins, which bore the mint mark “P”, where know as Potosí. You can go to “Mirador Aereo Pari Orcko” to know about the history and tradition of Potosí. .Visit to “Convento de San Francisco”, was founded in 1547 by Gaspar de Valverde, making in the oldest monastery in Bolivia.

The museum has examples at typical religious art, including various paintings from the school Potosina Indigenous; Notable Painting is a portrait of “Antonio Lopez de Quiroga “a wealthy man from the17 th Century, who donated generously to the church. The highlight comes at the end, when you climb up the tower and on to the roof for a grand view over Potosí. Visit to Mercado Artesanal you can take a look to the textile production hand woven cloth,regional handicrafts and antiques, pottery, the gold and silver handicraft and the typical musical instruments. After that, we you can go to “MUSEUM CONVENTO SANTA TERESA”, a visit to Santa Teresa may provide an unsettling vision in to a hidden facet of the Colonial Church. At the entrance you can sill see the 17th Century Wooden Turtle that sheltered the cloistered nuns from the outside world, a skeleton in the old dining room and evidence of lots of flagellation.

Cooperative Private Mines Visit to Cooperative Private Mines of Cerro Rico.  The Silver Mine.

The visit off the private, cooperative mines of Unificada is for sure the highlight from Potosi Cooperative Company, Rosario, Candealria, Pailaviri and Santa Elena intercommunicated mines. You can visit the most antique mines in the Rich Mountain, dated from colonial times . The Silver mountain or Sumaj Orcko know for its silver mineshas well relieved the title of the world’s Natural Patrimony. The visit on the private cooperative mines is a unique and unforgettable experience that should not be missed. You will be able to appreciate the work system .The sacrificed work of today’s miners. Exploitation work of the silver began in the colonial period and is maintained today using the same working tools. You will also observe the galleries, putties and cupules made of stone, over 454 Years ago.You will enter more than 3 km, into the intercommunicated mines and descend 5 levels from 20 to 30 mt until you reach the heart of the mountain. Our knowledgably guides will help you gain fascinating insights in to the lives of 980 working miners. Receive explanations on the mines history economy, culture, and working conditions. You will see the exploitation of different mineral veins such as silver, zinc, lead, tin and others that are extracted in the different mine entrances of the Rich Silver Mountain.You will be acquainted with actual situations of child miners and of women palliri who hold minery activities by selecting minerals from the jades; while maintaining their role as home makers.

Along the seventeen years of service without interruption the group of guides and the company give helping with 15% of the money from the visit ticket to the cooperative mines of the Rich Hill. The economic help that it has served, it is good to support, in the education of the orphan mining children, in the purchase of medicines for the sick miners of Silicosis, in the purchase of tools and others, with the economic help for individual and group of visitors.For the future, there are several projects for building a Sanitary Post, Hygienic Bathrooms, deposit of drinkable water, a refuge for the caretaker of the Mine, for these projects they need help of taxes, economic donations

The Mine God

You will gain an understanding of miner’s customs and beliefs. La Ch’alla (the toast) with alcohol, coca leaves and cigarettes, in honour of “Tata C’acchu” (good of the miners), el Tio, owner of the silver, and the mine entrance split blood of llama which is traditionally done in honour of Pachamama, mother earth.

General

The visit starts at 09:00 am and 02:00 pm every day from the hotel, to miners market “Calvario”, where you will be able to choose from coca leaves, cigarettes, Coke, or water, dynamite and fuses which can be take presents for the miners

What is included?