Tarata, city in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia
Tarata is a small city in the Cochabamba department of Bolivia, set in the Tarata Canton, not far from the departmental capital. Its center is built around Plaza Aroma and features colonial stone buildings, including the San Pedro church, the San Jose convent, and a town hall tower overlooking the surrounding hills.
Tarata grew from a Franciscan mission station, and the San Jose convent, considered Bolivia's first convent, was built in the late 18th century. The town then became a base for Franciscan missionaries who organized their work in the eastern regions of Bolivia, including Moxos and Chiquitos.
The name Tarata comes from Quechua and describes the town's position in a mountain valley. Walking through the streets, visitors can find women weaving traditional textiles and, in November, the town fills with activity for the feast of patron saint San Severino.
The town center is easy to explore on foot, as the main points of interest are grouped around Plaza Aroma. Local buses from Cochabamba run regularly and the ride takes around half an hour, making a morning or afternoon trip straightforward.
Inside the San Pedro church, a sword belonging to Bolivian president Mariano Melgarejo is on display, a detail many visitors walk past without noticing. Melgarejo was born in Tarata, as was a later president, René Barrientos Ortuño, and the homes of both men can still be seen in town.
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