Potosí, Colonial mining city in southern Bolivia
Situated at an elevation of 4,090 meters in the Bolivian highlands, Potosí features narrow streets leading to a central plaza with government buildings and a cathedral.
Following the discovery of silver deposits in 1545, Potosí developed into one of the largest cities in the Americas with over 200,000 inhabitants by the late 1500s.
The Casa de la Moneda, constructed in the 1570s, displays collections of mining equipment, historical artifacts, local artworks, and exhibits about regional ethnography.
Travelers can reach Potosí through connecting highways from major Bolivian cities including Sucre, Oruro, La Paz, and Tarija, with regular bus services available.
The mines of Cerro Rico produced 60 percent of the world's silver during the 16th and 17th centuries, requiring thousands of tunnels through the mountain.
Location: Potosí Municipality
Inception: 1545
Elevation above the sea: 4,070 m
Part of: Potosí Department
Website: http://potosy.com.bo
GPS coordinates: -19.58929,-65.75347
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:05
This collection includes towns established above 3,000 meters altitude, mainly located in the Andes and on Asian highlands. These urban centers house several million inhabitants who live daily under conditions where oxygen is scarce. La Rinconada in Peru reaches 5,300 meters, making it the highest city in the world, while La Paz in Bolivia, at 3,639 meters, has over 1.6 million residents. Sites with historical significance such as Potosí in Bolivia, founded in the 16th century for its silver mines and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Lhasa in Tibet, the former capital of the Tibetan kingdom with dozens of Buddhist temples including the renowned Jokhang Temple, are included. Additionally, towns like Puno in Peru or Shigatse in China demonstrate human adaptation to extreme environments, creating communities of hundreds of thousands. These destinations offer a look into Andean and Himalayan cultures shaped by elevation and provide exceptional travel experiences.
Cerro Rico
3.4 km
National Mint of Bolivia
105 m
La Glorieta castle
75.8 km
House of Freedom
79.5 km
Sucre Cathedral
79.4 km
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Potosí
57 m
La Recoleta Monastery
79.4 km
Estadio Víctor Agustín Ugarte
1.4 km
San Lorenzo Church, Potosí
317 m
Basílica de San Francisco, Sucre, Bolivia
79.6 km
Antonio José de Sucre Bridge
65.8 km
Palacio de la Prefectura de Chuquisaca
79.3 km
Inka Mach'ay, Bolivia
78.4 km
Torre de la Compañía
127 m
Convento de San Felipe de Neri (Sucre)
79.2 km
Potosí mountain range
16.4 km
National Archive and Library of Bolivia
79.4 km
Devil´s bridge
26.9 km
Pari Urqu
5.9 km
Iglesia de La Merced
79.2 km
Plaza 25 de Mayo
79.5 km
Roles Apart-Hotel
80.4 km
Templo de San Lázaro
79.6 km
Pari Chata
40.7 km
Kunturiri
12.4 km
Kuntur Nasa
42.2 km
Saint Theresa Museum
352 m
Teatro Gran Mariscal
79.6 kmReviews
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