4 de Mayo is
the city’s main avenue. 4 de Mayo (May
4th) was the date of Margarita’s liberation from the Spanish. This historically valuable avenue stretches
for about 4 Km. The fanciest and more expensive stores selling duty free,
imported goods from all over world are located here.
Bella
vista beach’s attraction is its incredibly beautiful forest of
palm trees. The beach is 1 Km long and
located on a calm bay. The water is not
very deep and has very soft sand. It is about 20m wide. Services are available.
Location: east of Guaraguao’s path.
Gomez’s
Boulevard was originated by the boom after Margarita’s
free-port status was declared. Newer stores
settled in old family houses and the families, in turn, moved into other more
peaceful areas. Location:
parallel to Guevara’s Boulevard.
Guevara’s Boulevard offers a great variety of goods at reasonable
prices. Stores line this boulevard as
it extends to meet the Old Porlamar’s harbor side Market. Historically this was
the area where locals came to sell their goods, and others, to buy them.
Watermelons, live animals, salt, and fresh live fishes, were sold in every
conceivable corner. Stalls even
extended onto the water where fishes caught on that day sold faster and at
higher prices. Location: south of Bolivar Square.
Igualdad street is not as
important historically as the other avenues, Its name “Equality street”
suggests that it has something in common with the other two. It stretches about
2 Km and is lined with stores
throughout. This street
leads you to Bolivar Square and San
Nicolas de Bary Church. Prices in this Calle
are very reasonable. Location: South west of Santiago Marino Avenue.
Porlamar
lighthouse (El Faro de la Puntilla) is the city’s most
impressive historical landmark. Here is a good place for a dramatic picture
where photogenic boats are moored on the seashore, pelicans rest in large
numbers and the color of the sky and the sea will pose for you. Location:
east of Calle La Marina.
San Nicolas de Bari Church houses the statue of the good saint and a copy of the
statue of the black Virgin of Monserrat, Spain.
The Francisco Narvaez Contemporary Art Museum was inaugurated in 1979. There is an art exhibition
from “Franciso Narvaez”, a 1905 Porlamar-born sculptor-painter. Location: at corner of Calle Igualdad and Calle
Diaz. |
Romulo
Gallego’s Pathway is a nice place to walk close to the sea and to
admire the colorful scenery. Wooden
fishing boats are moored along its bay. It is recommended to walk during
daylight hours. It Begins in the Old Market and follows round the Guaraguao
coast until reaching Bella Vista beach.
Porlamar’s Marina Concorde is the place where locals go for windsurfing, water skiing and sailing. Others just for tasting the sea food flavors at sea-side restaurants, its location offers the convenience of being close to down town.
El Morro beach is on a calm bay and visited mostly by locals. The water here is incredibly clear, the soft sand is of a golden color and the water is very deep close to shore. Neither trees nor services are to be found here. Recommended only for photographic impressions, and diving.
La Caracola Beach is Porlamar’s longest beach, it is about 3.5 Km long. This beach is mostly used for the tourists staying at a group of hotels and resorts located right in front of it. There is strong surf and little shade. To the southern end, there is a lagoon and a sand spit that separates it from the sea. You can drive along the beach by a coastal paved road, the road takes you parallel to the sea at a distance of about 100 meters. Drive carefully because this road is used for jogging and easy walks along the beach. The breeze is very refreshing and the sea view is spectacular. You can also admire a small island on the horizon called El Farayon.
Bolivar
liberated five South American countries (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and
Bolivia) and was born in Caracas, Venezulela on July 24, 1783. Venezuelans
honor his heroism in most towns by erecting a statue or building a Plaza
(square). Porlamar’s Plaza Bolivar is surrounded by huge trees and gardens. On
holidays, bands and parades meet in this and other Plazas. It is the place to
take pictures, meet a friend or loved
one, read a book or the news, bring the
children on Venezuela’s liberation holiday and, for foreigners, to take
pictures or video impressions back home. Respect to Bolivar’s memory is very
noticed. Important tips: remove your hat, no shorts, T-shirts and skirts are
permitted to transit across the Plaza.
If you are not “properly” dressed please walk around the perimeter of
the Plaza. Location: West of Calle Igualdad.
Old Porlamar, was founded by Father Francisco de Villacorta on
March 26, 1536. At that time it was
a sleepy fishing town, nowadays it is
the largest (160,000 residents) and most developed “city” on the island. It has
been transformed into a dynamic metropolis lined with high rise resorts along
its coast, wide boulevards of duty-free shops, plenty of sea food restaurants,
night life, and outdoor cafes. Porlamar’s water front is in a calm harbor where
typical fishing boats and sailing yachts are moored just offshore. Modern fashion has also arrived, casual -
shorts and sandals are the most common uniforms.
The
Main Shopping area is spread out along two main avenues, three boulevards and a
market. Souvenir and handicraft
shopping is concentrated in a few villages, or for the lazy shoppers, in
handicraft stores.
Santiago Marino
avenue was named after Margarita’s liberator hero. Here you’ll find more
stores, restaurants, bars and cafes. |
