Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio River. It is a modern city, fourth most populated in the country, highly important for its situation in the middle of the west-central axis of communications, industries and agriculture of Venezuela.

History and Culture
The Barquisimeto Athenaeum was created by a group of cultural promoters, poets, writers, educators and sociocultural workers. This institute was created for the rescue of the traditions and customs of the city.

Tourist Offices
There is a tourist information office at Parque del Este on Avenida Libertador which is open from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, just closing for lunch. There are also info kiosks at the bus terminal and at the airport.

Sightseeing
The Juárez Theatre is located in the centre of the city, and has been reconstructed almost totally over the years. It has a special attraction for the tourists, its structure, and the different cultural manifestations of the city and the country, that are represented there. It was the first of the Lara state.

One of the many landmarks in Barquisimeto is an obelisk, called El Obelisco, which was raised to commemorate Barquisimeto's 400th anniversary of foundation. The Cathedral, which is an oddly shaped design to say the least-it is supposed to look like an inverted orchid, is very rare in Latin America since it consists of a cross-like tinted glass dome. Once a year in January, the Divina Pastora, a big, moveable statue of the Holy Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus, is held by 6 to 10 men and carried to the cathedral from the Bassilica Minor. More than 2 million people join the procession and walk the entire course every 14th January. One might go expecting a sombre religious ceremony which might be the case if it were not for the flood of vendors and easy access to alcohol all along the route which tends to create a more party atmosphere than anything else.

Getting there
There are regular flights arriving from Caracas and Maracaibo or you can catch a bus here from Valencia, Maracaibo, Barinas, Guanare, Valera or Caracas.