Venezuela has plenty of interesting sights for those not wanting to spend the whole holiday lazing around in the sunshine. The major cities are fascinating places with plenty of interesting architectural features that give visitors an insight into the country’s past. Museums offer a greater insight into not only the history, but the culture and heritage of the country.

Caracas
Caracas is the country’s capital and one of its oldest cities having been founded in 1567. While the city is constantly subject to development, there are still some areas such as San José and La Pastora that offer glimpses of its historic past. The city has an extensive number of sites of interest among which is the Capitolio Federal building, the Panteón Nacional, the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex and the Caracas Cathedral.

Ciudad Universitaria
The Central University of Venezuela, located in Caracas was designed by the world famous architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva and awarded World Heritage Site status in 2000. The main campus is deemed a masterpiece of modern architecture and art having had the assistance of more than 28 contemporary artists in its design and construction. Among the big names that made a contribution are Alexander Calder, Alejandro Otero, Fernand Léger and Oswaldo Vigas.

Museo de Arte Colonial
Set among stunning gardens, the Museo de Arte Colonial in Caracas, is located inside Quinta Anauco, a magnificent colonial country mansion that was built in 1797. The house’s interior offers views of classic period rooms complete with fine art and furnishings in keeping with the general grandeur. At weekends, the converted stables of the mansion are used to host chamber music performances.

Mérida
The university town of Mérida is the capital of the Mérida state and is a city known for its agreeable climate and stunning natural scenery. It’s also famous for being home to the highest and longest cable car in the world; a French-built affair that reaches 4765 metres over a lengthy 12.5kms. Among the city’s notable sights are the Lagoons of Mucubaji, the Valle Grande, Los Anteojos, Los Chorros de Milla, Los Patos, the Flower Clock and the famous Black Lagoon. An ice cream parlour, the Heladería Coromoto, is noted as having more flavours than any other parlour in the world.

Ciudad Bolívar
Capital of the eastern Venezuelan state of Bolívar, Ciudad Bolívar is an old city that was founded in 1764 and originally named Angostura. The city is notable for being one of Venezuela’s most significant historical and cultural centres offering colonial architecture at sites such as Plaza Bolívar, Parochial House and Piar house as well as venues such as the Jesús Soto Museum of Modern Art, the San Isidro Museum and the Ciudad Bolívar Cathedral.

Check out the world’s largest selection of Ice Cream
The Coromoto Ice Cream Parlour in Mérida is famed for its 816 flavours of ice cream that have won it a place in the Guinness Book of Records. At any one time, the parlour has only 100 flavours available, among which you might be lucky to get to try tuna fish, onion, spinach or fried pork rind flavour or mysteriously named creations such as British Airways, Reuters, Savage Love and The Tourist. The list of all 816 flavours is up on the heladería’s wall for visitors to marvel, lick their lips or grimace at accordingly.

Go spelunkering!
The rather unusually termed ‘spelunkering’ is the pursuit of exploring caves often unguided and unassisted and with little more than a powerful headlamp or torch and a good supply of batteries. A three hour bus ride from Cumaná brings you to Cueva del Guácharo, the country’s most spectacular collection of caves which offer the enthusiastic spelunker, more than ample opportunity to explore the fascinating depths, taking in stalactites and stalagmites and various interesting rock formations.

Maracaibo sightseeing tours
A sightseeing tour beginning in Maracaibo takes visitors north to the peninsula of Guajira where Native Americans of the Guajiro and Motilone tribes live. Development and technology means little to these simple folk who still live much as their ancestors did in the days of the first Spanish settlers. The Indians live in traditional stilted houses above the lake and visitors might be interested to know that it was from these dwellings that the name Venezuela, meaning Little Venice, was taken.

Sample the local cuisine
Food is such an integral part of Venezuelan culture that anyone holidaying in the country, would be crazy not to partake of the local fare. Areperias open early in the morning and invariably close late at night so visitors have plenty of opportunity to sample the famous arepas that are eaten by all and sundry across the nation. Tasty rice dishes with beef and chicken flavoured with garlic and coconut and various spices are typical of Venezuela and a must for visitors wanting to get the entire Venezuelan experience.

Take a boat trip
Visit the Parque Nacional Morroy in the northwest of the country and besides the stunning natural scenery that a walking tour provides, visitors can take a boat trip through the caños, picturesque channels laden with mangroves and supporting a variety of flora and fauna. Alternatively, head for the islands within the park such as Chichiriviche and Cayo Sombrero from where scuba diving and snorkelling are possible as well as fresh and salt water fishing.

Take a ride on the world’s longest cable car
Located in the town of Mérida, the French built cable car is not only the longest in the world but also the highest. After travelling 12kms, the car reaches the lofty height of 4765 metres, from which truly breathtaking views over the country are afforded. The car reaches its peak at the Pico Espejo mountain; a location well known for its trekking and mountaineering possibilities.