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Also, on January 6 is celebrated in
“Zea” the party of miraculous “Niño de la Cuchilla”, a party very
typical where an imagine of the miraculous child is carried from his
chapel in a near hill to the principal church of town. In the finish
months of the year about on December 8 is celebrated the party of
“The Immaculate Virgin”, in the Mérida Cathedral with many mass
during the day. Surprisingly, the Meridians are bullfighting
enthusiasts during carnival “The Feria del Sol” or “Fair of the Sun”
is held and there are five afternoons of bullfighting at the Plaza
Monumental Román Eduardo Sandia, with some of the best bullfighters
in the world. The city elects the Queen of the Fair, and the
atmosphere is festive, with parades, floats and popular dances.
Places of Interest
The Plaza Bolivar is a meeting place for the people of Mérida and is
well known for its concerts. In the center of Plaza Bolivar there is
an equestrian statue of the Libertador and according to the legend,
the right hand of the bloody tyrant Aguirre is buried underneath it.
During his visit to Mérida, his holiness Pope John Paul II planted
an Araguaney tree (The National Tree) in this plaza, which today
flowers in front of the Cathedral of Mérida. The Cathedral was
originally built using the plans for the Cathedral in Toledo, Spain,
but also there are many other churches in Mérida that you can visit,
Milla Church, San José de la Sierra Church, and Espejo Church.
There are parks and churches all over Mérida. The city has different
parks like “Albarregas” with its many sculptures, “Los Chorros de
Milla” Zoo, “La Isla Park”, and “Las Heroinas” Park located in front
of the Cable Car. The city has three wonderful parks that are very
visit for the tourist, their names are “Los Aleros” Park, It is a
replica of an old Andean town, “La Venezuela de Antier” Park, It is
a travel for the wonderful past of Venezuela in the century XX, and
the new Park “La Montaña de los Sueños”, It is a film park where you
can be character in many movies, and TV programs in the years 60 and
70.
Mérida, besides having everything, is also fortunate to have the
highest (4.765 meters or 15.630 feet) and longest (12.50 kilometers
or 7.70 miles) cablecar in the world , in its modern cabins the top
of the Sierra Nevada can be reached in about an hour. The cablecar
is Mérida’s most outstanding tourist attraction. The ascent starts
at the Barinitas station (In El Espejo sector of tow, between 24th
an 25th streets) and there are four stations, La Montaña (2.436
meters or 7.990 feet) , La Aguada (3.452 meters or 11.633 feet),
Loma Redonda and Pico Espejo. The trip on the cablecar is a
breathtaking and exciting experience. The panoramic views from each
of the stations, the changes in climate and vegetation at the
different altitudes and the tropical snow of the Sierra at the top
are spectacular. In San Rafael del Páramo you can visit the
wonderful stone chapel, work of pleasant artist Juan Félix Sanchéz
and also from San Rafael de Mucuchíes there are excursions on mule
to El Tisure Art Complex.
Surrounding cities
One of the many squares the city owns, besides Bolivar's, is
Beethoven's so named to honor the famous German composer.
The Merideños (Merida's citizens) are highly fond of "la fiesta
brava" (bull-fight), whose highest season takes place during "La
Feria del Sol" the regional festivities that bring in the best known
bull fighters.
At Los Chorros de Milla a beautiful local park, you will admire two
splendorous high cascades (that give the park its name), luxuriant
vegetation, pretty ponds and a small zoo. Altogether a fine place to
spend a pleasant day.
Merida City is considered a tourist pole not only for the numerous
attractions it offers but also for good standard hotels, inns,
restaurants and most of all its friendly population
The valley where Mérida is located houses three cities: Ejido,
Tienditas del Chama and Mérida itself.
Ejido is a bedroom community for Mérida, which is connected to it by
the Avenida Andrés Bello, and over the years Mérida and Ejido have
closed in on each other, almost turning it into a conurbation. The
distance between them is however sufficient as to declare them
separate cities. They are very similar cities in all aspects,
including architecture, population, layout, etc.
Tienditas del Chama is a small "town" in the skirts of the Mérida
mesa, in the Chama river basin, hence its name. It is connected to
Mérida by a series of winding roads on the side of the mountain.
Like Ejido, Tienditas is also a bedroom city for Mérida, where most
of the valley's industries and jobs are based. Tienditas is a fairly
poor town, with regular rural architecture.
Original
Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/
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