Potosi travel guide — Potosi tourism and travel information

Potosi travel guide

about Potosi

Potosí is a city, the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is at an altitude of 3967 meters and has about 115,000 inhabitants. It lies beneath the Cerro Rico ("Rich mountain"), a mountain of silver ore, which has always dominated the city. Founded 1545 as a mining town, it soon acquired fabulous wealth. In Spanish there is still a saying vale un Potosí meaning "being worth a fortune" and, for Europeans, "Peru" was a mythical land of riches. It is here that most of the Spanish silver came from and Indian labour, forced by Francisco de Toledo through the mita institution, came to die by the thousands. After 1800 the silver mines became depleted, making tin the main product. This eventually led to a slow economic decline.

During the War of Independence (1809-1825) Potosi was frequently passed from the control of Royalist and Patriot forces. Major blunders by the First Argentine Auxilary Army (under the command of Castelli) led to an increased sense that independence was needed and fostered resentment against the Argentine. During that occupation there was anarchy and martial excess, and Potosi became unfriendly to the point where it could not be defended.

When the second auxillary army arrived it was recieved well, and the commander, Belgrano did much to heal the past wounds inflicted by the tyrannical minded Castelli. When that army was forced to retreat, Belgrano took the calculated decision to blow up the Casa de Moneda. Since the locals refused to evacuate this explosion would have resulted in many casualties, but by then the fuse was already lit. Disaster was averted not by the Argentine who at that time were fleeing, but by locals who put the fuse out. In one stroke the good feelings Belgrano delicately built were destroyed. Two more expeditions from the Argentine would seize Potosi.

Zacatecas in Mexico was the other big silver mine of the Spanish Empire.

Near cities to Potosi

• Sucre travel guide 78 km
• Oruro travel guide 230 km
• Tarija travel guide 240 km
• Cochabamba travel guide 250 km
• Santa Cruz travel guide 340 km
• La Paz travel guide 430 km
• Arica travel guide 500 km
• Tacna travel guide 500 km
• Salta travel guide 580 km
• Puno travel guide 620 km

Near webcams to Potosi

• Salta webcam 580 km
• Tucuman webcam 810 km
• Plaza de Armas webcam 1 500 km
• Lima - Av. Arequipa webcam 1 500 km
• Lima - Plaza Mayor webcam 1 500 km
• Las Condes webcam 1 600 km
• Santiago de Chile webcam 1 600 km
• Santiago webcam 1 600 km
• Santiago de Chile - Apoquindo / Sector E webcam 1 600 km
• Buenos Aires - Banco Itaú webcam 1 800 km

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Potosi travel services

cheap flights to Potosi

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Potosi travel insurance

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Potosi, accident health Potosi travel insurance, all using our online Potosi travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in Bolivia. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Potosi real estate

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City Travel Guide comes with Potosi real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Potosi property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Bolivia, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Potosi.

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Potosi travel books

Potosi travel guide books

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Potosi maps and atlases

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