In the heart of South America lies Bolivia, the crossroads of the continent. Long the seat of pre-Columbian culture, Bolivia has a fascinating history stretching back over 2,000 years. From the mysterious culture of Tiwanaku to the colonial days of religious missionaries, Bolivia has a great many monuments to its varied past.
Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku is a pre-Columbian archaeological site located 45 miles from La Paz, Bolivia. Once the cradle of Andean civilization, Tiwanaku was abandoned before the arrival of the first Europeans in the 16th century. Although little is known about the culture that built Tiwanaku, there is evidence to suggest that they originated around 1000 BC and that they controlled the entire Titicaca Basin during the height of their power, as well as parts of Peru, Chile and parts of Argentina. Tens of thousands of people lived in Tiwanaku during its heyday, and nearly 150000 people lived in the countryside around the city. The disappearance of the Tiwanaku culture is thought to have been the result of an extended drought around 900 AD, leaving the area open for the rise of the later Inca empire. The site itself has many well-preserved structures, including the Akapana Pyramid, the Kalasasaya walled temple and the Gateway of the Sun, a large carved stone doorway.The ruins are now a national historic site and a popular destination for visitors.
El Fuerte de Samaipata
The El Fuerte de Samaipata ruins were once home to two civilizations dating back to the second century BC. The ruins are in two areas, the residential quarters and the hilltop stone carvings. The stone carvings are considered to be the ceremonial center of the culture that lived in the area and depict such power animals as snakes and jaguars, as well as geometric shapes and lines. Little is known about the first culture that existed at the site, although the later Inca presence is well documented and studied. The ruins are an important historic site and national monument in Bolivia, as well as being a World Heritage Site.
San Javier Jesuit Mission
Established in 1691, San Javier was the first of the Missions of Chiquitos to be established in eastern Bolivia. The missions are known for their distinctive blend of European and indigenous aesthetic elements in their design and decoration and San Javier is the best example of this. The missions are the last remnants of Jesuit influence in that part of the country and are a hugely important historical monument and World Heritage Site.
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