As the "first born of the contitnent", as most people here would refer, Cumaná has a rich history with more of 500 years of heritage. The historical centre shows the colonial structures that has shaped the city since many centuries ago, having a strong potential for cultural and turistic plans. Here's my pick of the most emblematic structures.

Santa Ines Church

Santa Ines Cocathedral Church is the oldest church in Cumaná. The structure that we know today was rebuild after an earthquake demolished the Parish Church in 1853, that occupied a square next to the Santa Maria Castle, also damaged by the seismic event. Due to reformations it comprises both neogothic and neorenaissance architecture styles.

The church represents a common scenario of most festitvities in the city, as Día de Santa Ines, every 21st of January, when a procession goes through the center of the city and ends at the church's outdoor staircases, accompanied by cultural acts in the surroundings. 

Santa María de la Cabeza Castle

Santa María de la Cabeza Castle is one of our good of cultural interest declared Municipal Patrimony in 2005. The fortress dates back to 1670, when it was used as the governor's residence and a militar quarter to defend the city. It was inspired the Forte Spagnolo Castle in L'Aquila, Italy. Due to seismic events the structure has been damaged multiple times suffering notable modifications as the demolition of the deterioreted construction in the superior floor, now replaced with the new "Ermita del Carmen", the little chappel gracing the top of the castle.

San Antonio de la Eminencia Castle

Perhaps the most recognizable landscape of Cumaná, the castle of San Antonio de la Eminencia sits on the highest hill of the city offering a panoramic view of the city, the Gulf of Cariaco and the coast of Araya. This fortress was built in the second half of the 15th century in order to defend the city from the incursion of English, French and Dutch pirates. It has a four star desing on top, each one pointing to a cardinal point.

A century ago it was still on service for defense matters, but in 1965 it was declared a National Historic Monument, is a tourist attraction and symbol of the city of the capital.

The Manzanares River has a historical relationship with the city of Cumaná, for its important ecological, cultural and economic role.  As it is used to supply drinking water to a large part of the oriental region of Venezuela, it was the main reason why spaniards first settled in Cumaná back in 1515, in order to suply water and goods to Nueva Cadiz, With it 80 km of lengh, it passes through the metropolitan area of Cumaná, discharging to the north and east of the city into the Caribbean Sea at the entrance of the Golf of Cariaco, another great body of water with the perks of saltwater.

The river has been in the colective mind of the population either for good or bad reasons. When Alexander von Humboldt started traveling the Americas in 1799 he described the river as a social place where all types of locals would swin in, havinf "very clear clear waters and fortunately, looking nothing like the Manzanares in Madrid". The river had always inspired poets and songwritters, as it's known song by the same name of the river.

(Postcard, 1955)

Environmental Problems

But like most of the world's rivers that cross populated centers, the Manzanares water is affected by the different human activities that take place in its proximity: urban, industrial, agricultural developments, and all the environmental consequences that each of them entails. At times when local industries discharge significant amounts of organic material, acids and caustic substances into the river, the mass of water undergoes changes in both its composition and its appearance, surpassing Venezuelan legal limits for water intended for human consumption as well as for waters to be discharged in coastal areas.

It is important and necessary for the public and private sector to take action to ensure the cleaning and protection of our natural spaces. If corrective action is not taken they may grow even more impacting life on the city as well as the ecosystem.

Despite the current situation of national scale, professionals graduated from the major universities and NGOs continue to generate ideas and projects of great importance for the wellbeing of communities. Cumana has many challenges and issues to improve, such as the provision of basic urban services. However, the city has great potential to achieve this, due to its exceptional natural feautures, as well as its people. The heritage of its environmental, built and cultural patrimony must be rescued and protected so that future generations will have the possibility to enjoy it.

In 2015, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the city of Cumaná, the BID worked together with the local ejecutive, on the implementation of an urban development program for Emerging Cities; it focus tourism as the guiding thread of all projects to transform the city's way of living. As result, a project for recovering the historic centre and public spaces for the joy of locals and visitors got proposed. Other projects as the construction of an eco-park and integration of sewer canals were also reviewed.

Non-governmental organizations and professionals from the University of Oriente have also worked on projects preserve and inhance the natural areas of the city, to allow all people to have access to an active recreational area within walking distance. That's how Somos Cumaná proposes a large pier and an artificial beach along the Perimetral Avenue of Cumaná inspired by the original project of the architect Mayra Martínez de Savelli.

These projects show that there's still people dreaming of the futuristic and modern city with funtional facilities that we as citizens. In order to achieve them, it is necessary a great agreement between the public administration and the civil sector, as well as a public debate of awareness that restores the citizen's sense of belonging to their land.

(Science Building, UDO Cumaná, 1984)

Although by the 1950s, the oriental region of Venezuela lacked university institutions, creating the need for the population to have access to a high level technical-scientific education where professionals could be trained to respond to the most urgent needs of the region and develop the immense existing resources.

Even in the 1950s, the eastern region of Venezuela lacked university institutions, creating the need for the population to have access to high-level technical and scientific education that would respond to the most urgent needs of the region and develop the immense existing resources.

It was in this way that modernity in Venezuela brought light to the oriental region under the name of Universidad de Oriente. The institution began its activities in February 1960 in Cumaná and since then it has evolved together with the city in the scientific, technological, social and cultural fields. It would be recognized as one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country.It would be recognized as one of the most prestigious study institutions in the country, developing scientific research and teaching in must fields of knowledge.