San José, Capital city in Central Valley, Costa Rica
San José is the capital of Costa Rica and spreads across the central highlands at around 1,200 meters elevation, surrounded by mountains and coffee plantations. Low concrete and tin buildings dominate the cityscape, interrupted by parks and wide avenues.
Spanish colonial officials founded the settlement in 1737 to gather scattered farmers of the Aserrí Valley into a single administrative center. After independence in 1821, local leaders chose this location as the seat of government, even though other towns were larger.
Street cafés and sodas fill with office workers at lunch, ordering casado, a typical midday dish of rice, beans and grilled meat. On weekends families gather in Parque Central, where singers and acrobats perform.
Juan Santamaría International Airport sits roughly twenty minutes from the center and connects the city with North and South America. Taxis and buses run regularly between the terminal and downtown, though the ride takes longer depending on traffic.
The Mercado Central holds roughly two hundred shops and stalls within a single city block, selling local products, traditional remedies and Costa Rican coffee. Many locals shop here daily for fresh ingredients for dinner.
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