First published: 04/03/24.

J_Neveryes 3.0

Sucre

Sucre (Inscribed)

Sucre by J_neveryes

Sucre feels like a de jure capital city, that is to say, a city of civil servants and white-collar professionals.  "Laid back" is a phrase you often hear to describe Sucre, and of the four larger cities (Santa Cruz, La Paz, Potosi, and Sucre) that I visited in Bolivia in 2023, I would certainly agree that it felt the most, well, pasteurized.  To compare it to the other three cities that I visited, it's prettier than Santa Cruz, less dynamic than La Paz, and less interesting than Potosi.  In summary, I liked it much better than Santa Cruz, but little less so than La Paz and Potosi.

Sucre's heart is Plaza de Armas 25 de Mayo.  Surrounding the lively and family friendly Plaza are several museums, good number of restaurants, a Cathedral, and people dressed up as zebras.  Casa de La Libertad - found on the northwest side of the Plaza - no longer requires you to visit with a guide. 

Near Casa de La Libertad is an attractive state government building.  I went inside and just kept walking up the various stairways until I arrived at its roof.  From the roof, I was then able to access the dome-like structure of the building.  Inside this structure was a spiral staircase, which led to a cupola and a small lookout. To be honest, I don't know if a security guard or government worker would have prohibited me from getting to the roof had they seen me.  Please also be mindful that it is a working civic building, rather than a tourist site.

If you move away from the Plaza, you will encounter other interesting pockets of local life.  To the very northern edge of the UNESCO World Heritage Site boundary - and within the zone - is Parque Simón Bolívar, for example.  You won't see much "outstanding universal value" in the park, but it is a good place to see local families and young folks hang out.  The Parque also contains a mini Eiffel Tower, which was designed by Mr. Gustav Eiffel himself.  

Across from the park is Bolivia's Supreme Court - and again within the UNESCO zone - which you can independently tour after registering with the security office.  There, however, isn't much to see in the building.

In summary, this walkable city is pleasant enough, pretty enough, and authentic enough, but it just lacks something to make it truly memorable.  Sucre did, however, strike me as a city that could surprise you with its hidden charms, if you had a local friend who can help you discover it.

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