El Montículo, Cultural heritage park in Sopocachi, La Paz, Bolivia.
El Montículo is a heritage park in Sopocachi with stone gates dating to the 1700s, garden spaces, and a chapel positioned on elevated terrain. The grounds include one of the city's oldest working clocks, mounted on a metal frame.
A major earthquake in the 1500s destroyed two Aymara villages in this area and led to the discovery of a Virgin statue on the hillside. This event gave the location its spiritual and historical weight.
The site officially honors Néstor Portocarrero, a composer whose song Illimani became deeply connected to La Paz's identity. This musical heritage shapes how locals relate to the space today.
The park sits at 3,635 meters elevation with sweeping views across several neighborhoods and toward the Illimani mountain. Visitors should prepare for the altitude and move at a comfortable pace to acclimate to the conditions.
An ornamental fountain sculpture was moved here in 1928 from another neighborhood and features Neptune with two tritons carved in marble as its centerpiece. This relocated artwork reflects how the city transformed during the 1900s.
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