Potosí

My second stop in Bolivia was Potosí, the highest city in the world (4100m above the sea level). I was travelling with Katryn, Quique and Coralie, who after the Uyuni tour had more or less similar plans. Our second Bolivian challenge, after the altitude, was 4 hours of loud Bolivian cumbia on an old bus Uyuni – Potosí!!

Potosí is a city with a very rich colonial heritage, a living museum of Spanish colonial architecture. The responsible of all this wealth was the mountain Cerro Rico, the richest source of silver the world had ever seen.  In the XVIth century, the silver extracted from this mountain turned the city in one of the wealthiest and largest cities in the world (the expression “esto vale un Potosí” comes from here). Unfortunately Cerro Rico was also Potosi’s curse because since the mines’ discovery, 8 million people have died (and still are dying) as slaves in the mountain’s entrails. Silicosis is still a common illness in Potosí 🙁

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The highlight of any visit to Potosí seems to be the half day tour (80Bs) down to Cerro Rico’s mines to see how miners suffer working more than 12 hours under subhuman conditions (60m below the surface, 40+ C temperature and no food, only coca leaves) in the mines. I preferred to watch the Devil’s Miner, an European documentary which won many international prices, played every day in my hostel for 5Bs. The Devil’sMiner follows the lives of two brothers of 14 and 12 years working in the mines, trying to save money to go to school and have a better life. It is a very good film but also very sad. After watching the film I did not feel very comfortable to sleep so close to the “Mountain that eats men alive”!

Potosí has more than 250 churches, with beautifully carved facades. Unlike classical churches (facing West), Potosí churches almost always face to the South, to Cerro Rico so the silver mines could be blessed from the altar. Unfortunately while we were there most of the churches were closed or had been turned into museums (the Cathedral included) with a very expensive entrance fee (for Bolivian standards). The same happened with La Casa Real de la Moneda (Royal Mint), the city’s architectural jewel, where visitors still can see the original machinery used in the various stages of the minting process. The (guided) visit cost 40Bs for foreigners so we only had a look at the entrance with its beautiful “mascarón”.

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At the end we spent most of our time in Potosí walking around the city and eating its famous salteñas and all kind of cakes, lol

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My Tips :

  • Potosí is very cold at night and hostel rooms are even colder (no heating) so come prepared!
  • La Manzana Mágica: vegetarian restaurant with excellent fresh food. Set menu for lunch (soup, salad, main and dessert) for 20 Bs (2.75€)Good choice of salads, soups and other vegetarian dishes at night;
  • El Hornito, C. Bolivar, is supposed to have the best salteñas (picture above) of the city! Price: 2.5 Bs (0.3€) each. No indications of this place, the only panel we saw at the entrance was “Hoy Salteñas”;
  • Santa Clara, Boulevard n 33, has amazing western and local cakes. Don’t miss this place!

 

4 thoughts on “Potosí”

  1. HOLA ELI ESTOY VIENDO LAS FOTOS DE POTOSI PUES EN TODOS LOS SITIOS HAY COSAS INTERESANTES Y MAS SI SABES LA

    HISTORIA DE LOS SITIOS CUANDO CAMBIES DE PAIS NOS LO DICES BESOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

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Quirky explorer with a preference for lesser-known sights, I am continuously looking for new ideas and tips to help you plan your dream World Tour!