San Cristóbal () is the

capital city A capital city or capital is the municipality holding primary status in a country, state, province, Department (country subdivision), department, or other subnational entity, usually as its seat of the government. A capital is typically a city ...

of the

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

n state of

Táchira Táchira State ( es, Estado Táchira, ) is one of the 24 states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Cristóbal. Táchira State covers a total surface area of and as of the 2011 census, had a population of 1,168,908. At the end of the 19t ...

. It is located in a mountainous region of Western

. The city is situated above

sea level Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardised g ...

in the northern

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

overlooking the Torbes River, from the

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

n border. San Cristóbal was founded on March 31, 1561, by Juan de Maldonado. From its inception, the city evolved rapidly as one of the most progressive and important centers of commerce in the country, due primarily to its rich soil and its proximity to the border with

The city was severely damaged by the Earthquake of Cúcuta (also known as Earthquake of the Andes) in 1875. The city is located on the

Pan-American Highway The Pan-American Highway (french: (Auto)route panaméricaine/transaméricaine; pt, Rodovia/Auto-estrada Pan-americana; es, Autopista/Carretera/Ruta Panamericana) is a network of roads stretching across the Americas and measuring about in to ...

Education

San Cristobal has a large student population. There are many post-secondary schools, both public and private, in San Cristobal. The main higher education facilities are: *

Universidad Nacional Experimental del Táchira The Universidad Experimental del Táchira, also known as Universidad del Táchira or UNET, is a public university founded on February 27, 1974 in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Venezuela. Recently, the university counts with 8,240 students among underg ...

(UNET) * Universidad de los Andes (ULA) * Universidad Católica del Táchira (UCAT) * Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Fuerzas Amadas (UNEFA) * Universidad Nacional Abierta (UNA) * Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Agro Industrial (IUTAI) * Instituto Universitario Politecnico Santiago Mariño * Instituto Universitario Antonio Jose de Sucre * Instituto Universitario Monseñor Talavera * Instituto Universitario Jesus Enrique Lozada * Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonzo (IUTEPAL)

Law and government

San Cristóbal has one municipality: ''San Cristóbal Municipality'', Venezuelan law specifies that municipal governments have four main functions: executive, legislative, comptroller, and planning. The executive function is managed by the

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

, who is in charge of representing the municipality's administration. The legislative branch is represented by the Municipal Council, composed of seven

councillors A councillor is an elected representative for a local government council in some countries. Canada Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unl ...

, charged with the deliberation of new decrees and local laws. The comptroller tasks are managed by the municipal

comptroller A comptroller (pronounced either the same as ''controller'' or as ) is a management-level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization. A financial comptroller is a senior-level executi ...

's office, which oversees

accountancy Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the measurement, processing, and communication of financial and non financial information about economic entities such as businesses and corporations. Accounting, which has been called the "language ...

. Finally, planning is represented by the Local Public Planning Council, which manages development projects for the municipality.Law and government
Gran San Cristóbal

Industry and economy

Vista de Facha Principal, Iglesia San José

San Cristobal is the capital of the Tachira State. As throughout the

Andean states The Andean states ( es, Estados Andinos) are a group of countries in western South America connected by the Andes mountain range. The "Andean States" is sometimes used to refer to all seven countries that the Andes runs through, regions with a sh ...

, the people of

are characterized as hardworking, cordial, conservative, and devoted to their historical, religious, and folkloric traditions. The primary industries here are centered around

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

, mainly the production of

coffee Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulant, stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. It is the most popular hot drink in the world. S ...

sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double ...

, and

vegetables Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. The original meaning is still commonly used and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including the flowers, fruits, stems, ...

. Other important industrial sectors which have helped fuel the economic engines of the region include

meat production Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, or other products. It includes day-to-day care, selective breeding, and the raising of livestock. Husbandry has a long history, start ...

(cattle), manufacturing industries like shoe, basket, and ceramics production. A fact that perhaps is not widely known is that it was in Táchira State, and not in

Zulia State Zulia State ( es, Estado Zulia, ; Wayuu language, Wayuu: ''Mma’ipakat Suuria'') is one of the States of Venezuela, 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Maracaibo. As of the 2011 census, it has a population of 3,704,404, the largest popu ...

, that the first oil wells were excavated in 1875(located in the Petrolea sector close to Rubio)-- a procedure done in those days by hand and with buckets. It is a commercial, transportation, and industrial center.

Textile Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the ...

leather Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffalo, pigs and hogs, ...

products,

cement A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel ( aggregate) together. Cement mix ...

, and

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

are produced, and

pineapple The pineapple (''Ananas comosus'') is a tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae. The pineapple is indigenous to South America, where it has been cultivated for many centuri ...

s, and

corn Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Th ...

are exported. The service sector is also strong. There are many branches of national banks located in the city, and it is the headquarters of an important financial institutions Sofitasa (bank of private investment). This bank is an important economic engine of the local economy because they help to finance many project in the region. In the dairy industry, Leche Táchira is one of the most consolidated industries in the country; this company is based in San Cristobal.

Sports

Deportivo Táchira Fútbol Club ''Deportivo'' (Spanish, 'sporting') may refer to: * Deportivo de La Coruña, commonly known as simply Deportivo, a Spanish football club * Déportivo, a French rock band * Deportivo (Mexicable), an aerial lift station in Ecatepec, Mexico * Deport ...

, usually known as Deportivo Táchira, is a football club located in San Cristóbal.

Architecture

San Cristóbal's architecture is rich and varied. The wedding cake and modernist architectural styles are particularly evident in the

façade A façade () (also written facade) is generally the front part or exterior of a building. It is a Loanword, loan word from the French language, French (), which means 'frontage' or 'face'. In architecture, the façade of a building is often t ...

s of the

Universidad Nacional Abierta Universidad (Spanish for "university") may refer to: Places * Universidad, San Juan, Puerto Rico * Universidad (Madrid) Football clubs * Universidad SC, a Guatemalan football club that represents the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala ...

and La Casa Antigua, a Spanish style building with various ornaments and sculptures. Another example is La Entrada Central, the only façade that's left from the old Hospital Vargas. Among the most notable churches are La Iglesia El Angel, the

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

styled church San José, and the El Santuario Church.

Transportation

There are three airports that serve Táchira State and its capital San Cristobal.

Juan Vicente Gómez International Airport Juan Vicente Gómez International Airport , is an airport serving San Antonio del Táchira, in the Táchira state of Venezuela. In June 1993, it was renamed in honor of the early Venezuelan President Juan Vicente Gómez, who was from Táchira, in ...

of San Antonio, Mayor Buenaventura Vivas Airport of Santo Domingo del Táchira and

La Fría Airport La Fría Airport , also known as Francisco García de Hevia International Airport, is an airport serving La Fría, a town in the Táchira state of Venezuela. The runway is northwest of the town. The La Fria VOR-DME (Ident: LFA) is located on th ...

of La Fria. There is a bus terminal located just below the La Concordia neighborhood of San Cristóbal where buses, taxis, and other vehicles arrive and depart daily.

Famous natives

Plaza Monumental de Toros de Pueblo Nuevo

Rafael de Nogales Méndez Rafael Inchauspe Méndez, known as Rafael de Nogales Méndez (October 14, 1877 in San Cristóbal, Táchira – July 10, 1937 in Panama City) was a Venezuelan soldier, adventurer and writer who served the Ottoman Empire during the Great War (1914 ...

, soldier and writer *

Isaías Medina Angarita Isaías Medina Angarita (6 July 1897 – 15 September 1953) was a Venezuelan military and political leader, the president of Venezuela from 1941 until 1945, during World War II. He followed the path of his predecessor Eleazar López Contreras ...

, military leader and former president of Venezuela * Manuel Felipe Rugeles, poet and journalist * Joel Casique, artist who formed the Escuela Cristóbal Rojas de Caracas *

Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera (August 23, 1913 - October 22, 1993) was a Venezuelan musician, composer and writer. Director of several orchestras and the founder of ''The National Typical Orchestra'', he was also for twenty years the director of ...

, folklorist and musician *

Francisco Arias Cárdenas Francisco Javier Arias Cárdenas (born 20 November 1950) is a Venezuelan politician and career military officer, and was the governor of Zulia state. He participated in Hugo Chávez's unsuccessful February 1992 coup attempt, being pardoned in ...

, former governor of Zulia State, presidential candidate, and Venezuelan ambassador to the UN *

Martín Marciales Moncada Martín Marciales Moncada, known as Martín Marciales, hijo (January 18, 1912 – March 6, 2001) was a Venezuelan visionary, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He critically contributed to the development of the city of San Cristóbal during the 2 ...

, entrepreneur and philanthropist *

Giancarlo Maldonado Giancarlo Gregorio Maldonado Marrero (, born 29 June 1982) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays as a striker. Club career River Plate Maldonado began his footballing career in Uruguay, where he started out in the youth teams of Montevideo c ...

, footballer * Marco Antonio Rivera Useche, musician and composer *

Tomás Rincón Tomás Eduardo Rincón Hernández (; born 13 January 1988) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or full-back for Venezuela national team, which he captain (association football), captains. Club career Ea ...

, footballer * Júnior Moreno, footballer *

Édgar Ramírez Édgar Filiberto Ramírez Arellano (, born 25 March 1977) is a Venezuelan actor. Ramírez studied communications at the Andrés Bello Catholic University. He then worked in media and considered becoming a diplomat. When Guillermo Arriaga prai ...

, actor *

Mikel Villanueva Mikel Villanueva Álvarez (born 14 April 1993) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays as a central defender for Portuguese club Vitória Guimarães and the Venezuela national team. He spent several years at Málaga, where he made 15 La Liga appea ...

, footballer.

Attractions and surroundings

One of the most celebrated festivities which attracts visitors from all over is the Feria Internacional de San Sebastián held annually at Pueblo Nuevo next to Táchira state football club's grounds. This fair, which occurs at the end of January, combines bullfighting festivities with a myriad of sport activities such as the

Vuelta al Táchira The Vuelta ciclista al Táchira (''English'': Tour of Táchira) is a multi-day road bicycle racing stage race held annually each January since 1966 in the state of Táchira in western Venezuela. The Vuelta al Táchira is part of the UCI America ...

, a bicycle race, artistic festivals, agricultural fairs, and many other spectacles. Nearby small businesses, in particular eateries, restaurants and small independent retailers thrive of the activities in Pueblo nuevo. Places to visit in and around San Cristóbal include all the squares and parks around the city, the enchanting colonial town of San Pedro del Río and Peribeca. During Christmas these towns are full of decorations and mangers of every shape and size. Near the border with

is the town of San Antonio de Táchira, with its lively commercial beat. Other interesting towns are Palmira and Abejales, above the town of Tariba, famous for their sugar cane baskets, and the town of El Topón, a typical agricultural town. The water fall of Chorro el Indio is an entertaining place to visit and be surrounded by nature. Plaza de los Mangos, in Barrio Obrero, is a popular youth hangout close to San Cristobal's city centre. A leafy square home to music shops, imported clothing retailers, Mini malls, nightclubs, eateries, ice-cream parlours, pool halls, Internet cafés, and small music venues, Plaza de los Mangos has become a busy hub for youth life. On a small offshoot road on the Plaza's north-eastern corner, a small Virgin Mary figure is housed under a protruding old tree branch, a branch once used for public hangings; the date of the last hanging varies with who you ask.

Events

Feria Internacional de San Sebastian. the San Sebastian fair is the largest fair in the country. It takes place at the end of each January. There is animal, agricultural, industrial and commercial trade.

Gallery Images

File:Iglesia de la Ermita.jpg, Ermita Church File:Iglesia El Angel.JPG, El Angel Church File:Vista parcial de San Cristóbal desde el Mirador.jpg, San Cristóbal from the hills File:Iglesia el Santuario, Luna.JPG, El Santuario Church

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

San Cristóbal is twinned with the following cities and municipalities:

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:San Cristobal, Tachira Cities in Táchira 1561 establishments in the Spanish Empire Populated places established in 1561