Arica Parinacota
Live the experience of walking the most important route of the spanish empire during the colonial time, “La Ruta de la Plata”, crossing the Atacama desert and climbing up to the Andes and getting to the majestic silver hill, the Cerro Rico, of Potosi. |
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The Legend tells that in 1545 an indigene named Diego Huallpa, went up to the Sumai Orko looking for a herd of lost llamas ,He removed a plant of rough straw to make fire and then he saw a shinny silver line. Such is the start of the interesting story about the beginning of the mines of the famous Cerro Rico of Potosí. And that mountain located far in the Indias, create an economic miracle that transform Europe.
Potosi became in a very active and attractive place where the activities advanced everyday, In 1630, Potosí counts 160.000 inhabitants. And the artistic life combines the presence of painters, writers, and sculptors.
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The Arica port due to its geographical location was the most important port for Potosi for 2 and a half centuries. Every year, big herds of llamas and mules brought the minerals and richness to the port to ship it and delivered it to Spain. On December the 7th, 1987, the city of Potosí was declared patrimony of the humankind by the UNESCO.
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