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COSTA RICA
By James Lutz
Home to lush tropical rain forests, shapely supermodels, and to the regional professional football powerhouse, Saprissa, Costa Rica has something for everyone. And with a population of just under 350,000, the capital of San Jose is an intimate setting to get your Costa Rican vacation started.
The city lies on a fertile plain at the southern end of the Central Valley. The Río Virilla and Río Torres form the border on the north, while the Río Tiribí marks the southern boundary. The canton encompasses San Jose Centro, although the Greater Metropolitan Area reaches far beyond in all directions.
What follows is a look at the major sites of the capital city.
SITES
Costa Rica’s National Museum, ancient Bellavista Fort
The Bellavista Fort was built in 1917, on the peek of Moras’ Hill, Cuesta de Moras (family name of the people living there), place occupied by the dwelling of Mauro Fernández, reformer of Costa Rican education. This building has a place in our history, not by being a witness of military deeds, but because in 1948, José Figueres Ferrer, three times President of Costa Rica, wielding a hammer, stroke its walls, in an allegorical abolishment of the army, thus founding the National Museum, guardian of precious treasures of Costa Rica’s cultural heritage.
National Park
Relevant symbol of the turn of the nineteenth century, the National Park features the National Monument, dedicated to the heroic deeds of the 1856-1857 War against the expansionist, pro-slavery attempts of the American filibuster William Walker. It’s a key spot of the “Calle de la Estación”, or 3rd Avenue, which runs from the Atlantic Railroad Station to the Morazán Park, which was called “Paseo de las Damas” or Damas Drive not because of the ladies but because of the tree species it had.
National Cultural Center (CENAC)
For the year of 1850, the president Juan Rafael Mora Porras created the National Spirits and Liquors Factory (FANAL), to improve the income of the Public Treasury and avoid production of illegal liquor. Due to the simplicity of design of the façade and distribution of internal spaces, the building seems of colonial style. Presently it houses the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports’ offices, as well as the “1887” and FANAL theaters, the Colegio de Costa Rica and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design.
Old Main Customs House
It was built between 1889 and 1891, to the East side of the capital, and was related to the Atlantic Railroad Station, which is one of the greatest nineteenth century buildings preserved to this day. Presently, it is administered by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, which uses it for national and international cultural and artistic activities and shows. Behind it is located the former Coin (Cuño) Building, presently the Theater La Aduana. |
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Jade Museum "Marco Fidel Tristán Castro"
This museum groups a series of important archaeological pieces, of pre-Columbian ages. Its purpose is to protect, conserve and divulge the Costa Rican indigenous heritage. There you may appreciate polychromic pottery, gold works, and jade pieces, of the Mesoamerican area, and mainly of certain regions of Costa Rica, among which Guanacaste and Nicoya (Northern Pacific); Central Valley; Atlantic Watershed, and Great Chiriquí.
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Costa Rica is Central America's dominant soccer power. |
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Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
Located in the former rums' factory of the National Liquors Factory, it’s noted by its walls made of boulders, nearly one meter thick, and cedar timber work. Has six show rooms, where permanent and temporary collections are displayed. It also offers innovative proposals of contemporary art and design, a library, video collection, special movies’ projections, and reunions on topics like present day creativity, at a national and international scale; has as well a Central American Arts Documentation Center.
Yellow House
In the year 1912, Andrew Carnegie donated funds to build the headquarters for the Central American Court of Justice in the city of San José. Works were ended by 1916. The new building has an ornamented lintel in its façade, of baroque influence. In 1919, when the court was dissolved, the building came to be property of the Costa Rican Government. On repeated occasions it was to be the Presidential House and for some months, it lodged the Legislative Assembly. Nevertheless, since its beginning and until now, the “Yellow House” as it is usually called, has mainly been headquarters for the Ministry (previously Secretariat) of Foreign Affairs and Cult. The building also houses the Museum “Marqués Manuel María Peralta,” who was one of the most important Costa Rican diplomats.
Central Park
In 1868, when San José’s water-supply system was first created, a water fountain was installed on the main plaza of the city; it was surrounded with a gate brought from England. In 1885, the plaza was to become the Central Park, to be remodeled again, in order to improve the urban landscape of the city. This park is at the heart of the city, crossroad for so many people coming daily from different parts of the country, to spread out for their everyday activities.
Central Market
After the Main Plaza was transformed into the Central Park, a place known as New Plaza was chosen, to create the city’s market. The property has experienced many changes since then, without losing its essence: being the hearth of cultures for Costa Rican society and a daily representation of the cultural heritage that is constructed day by day, in a process where the traditional is combined with the modern.
-2008-01-03
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