Coro

Coro sits along the Caribbean coast in Falcón state, roughly eleven kilometers inland from its port of La Vela. The center consists of low-rise houses with interior courtyards and passageways that link shaded avenues and cobblestone streets laid out during colonial times.

Juan Martínez de Ampiés founded the settlement in 1527 as the first capital of what later became Venezuela. The political center shifted to Caracas in the following decades, while Coro kept its role as a trading hub linking the coast and interior.

T h e nam e c om es f rom th e w or d

The historic core can be walked easily, as most colonial buildings stand within a few blocks of each other. Visitors should plan for sun protection and carry water during the day, since the coastal location brings warm temperatures year-round.

The Jewish cemetery dates to the 19th century, established by Sephardic settlers from Curaçao, and remains the oldest Hebrew burial ground in South America. Some tombstones carry inscriptions in Ladino, the Romance language of the Sephardic diaspora, which has been spoken since medieval times.

Location: Municipio Colina

Location: Municipio Miranda

Inception: July 26, 1527

Founders: Juan Martínez de Ampiés

Elevation above the sea: 17 m

Part of: Coro and its Port

Website: http://miranda-falcon.gov.ve

GPS coordinates: 11.40558,-69.66791

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:04