Coro Things to Do Tips by MalenaN

Iglesia de San Clemente

The Church of San Clement is one of only three old churches in Venezuela that is built in a Latin cross-plan. Already in 1538 there was a church standing at this site which was dedicated to San Clement. The church standing here today is from the 18th century. Inside there is an anchor hanging from the ceiling, because San Clement was drowned with an anchor tied to him.
In the square outside the church there is a small pavilion with a wooden cross. This cross is the Cruz de San Clemente and it is said that this cross was used in the first mass held in Coro.
The church was open many times when I passed.

Address: Calle 33 Zamora7Plaza San Clemente

Museo de Arte Alberto Henríquez (UNEFM)

In another colonial house, very near Coro Art Museum is another museum, Museo de Arte Alberto Enrique (UNEFM), with temporary exhibitions of modern art.
In the back of the house you can see the first synagogue in Venezuela. It was founded in 1853, but the furniture is not original but they are all replicas.
Admission is free.
The museum is open between 9 - 12 and 15 - 18 on Tue - Sat, and between 9 - 12 on Sundays.

Address: Paseo Talavera

Phone: 0268 - 252 5299

Museo de Arte de Coro

Museo de Arte de Coro is situated in a yellow, two story colonial mansion from the 18th century. The house is called Balcón de Bolivar (Simón Bolívar) stayed in this house on the 23rd of December 1826).
The Museum is a branch of the Caracas Museo de Arte Contemporáneo. It has been here since 1988 and it has good temporary exhibitions. When I visited I was the only visitor.
Admission is free.
The museum is open between 9 - 12.30 and 15 - 19.30 on Tue - Sat, and between 9 - 16 on Sundays.

Address: Paseo Talavera

Directions: In the corner of Paseo Talavera and Calle Hernández

Other Contact: museoartecoro@cantv.net

Phone: 0268 - 251 5658, 808 3603

Museo Diocesano Lucas Guillermo Castillo

Next to Iglesia de San Francisco, in an old monastery from the 17th century, is the Museo Dioesano Lucas Guillermo Castillo. It is a museum with a big collection of religious art, madonnas carved in wood , paintings and silver and gold objects. The guided tour is in Spanish and it takes almost an hour. The museum is good and worth a visit.
Entrance fee is 3000 Bs (July 2007).
The museum is closed on Mondays.
It is open Tue - Sat 9 - 12, 15 - 18 and Sun 9 - 14.

The Cathedral

The cathedral is situated by Plaza Bolivar and is one of the oldest churches in America still standing. The construction of the cathedral begun in 1583, but it was not finished until 50 years later.
The cathedral is painted in white on the outside and also the inside. It is beautiful and simple. The ceiling is made of wood and there are three retables in baroque style in the front.

Parque National Médanos de Coro

Los Médanos is a national park with sand dunes northeast of Coro. They are covering an area of 80 sq km and you can be here seeing nothing but than sand. Some of the dunes are 30 metres and you can get the impression you are in the middle of a big desert. During the day it is very, very hot, so it is better to visit in late afternoon. I did, and to go here I took a taxi from the city centre for 5000 Bs. I visited a Saturday and there were quite a lot of people visiting, but most of them stayed near the entrance. At the entrance there are some restaurants and snack stalls.

Casa de las Ventanas de Hierro

This house was built in 1764 by Don José Garcés de la Colina, and at that time the iron bars across the windows were brought from Sevilla in Spain. The plastered white and yellow doorway is 8m high and is in contrast with the pink/red walls. In the private collection there are furniture and other historical objects displayed.
I was shown around by a man who only spoke Spanish, which I don’t do very well.
Entrance fee was 2500 Bs (July 2007).
The museum is closed on Mondays.
It is open Tue - Sat 9 - 12, 15 - 18,
and Sun 9 - 14.

Address: Calle Zamora

Museo de Ceramíca

The museum of ceramics is housed in a very nice house. It is a white house with blue balconies and tilled roof built in the 18th century. The house is called Casa de los Arcaya. So if you are not interested in pottery you can visit just to see the house.
There is both antique pottery and pottery from many different countries. There is a lot of written information but only in Spanish. In the courtyard there are some big cacti.
The museum is closed on Mondays. It is open Tue - Sat 9 - 12, 15 - 18 and Sun 9 - 13.
There is no entrance fee. As I left I signed in a book and got some small fruits from the nice staff.

Address: Calle Zamora

Directions: Next to San Clemente Church

Phone: 0268 - 251 0023