Bolivia's Southern Altipano
Potosi
Should a bridge been built from Potosi to Madrid, it is oft said that it could be built from the silver mined from the Cerro Rico alone. Cerro Rico, or the Rich Hill, is the foundation for this once opulent city’s superior wealth. Today, vibrant reflections of Potosi’s former prestige remain, and visitors may experience a unique high, not from silver delirium as in years past, but from the towering altitude in which this fascinating city rests.
Gain insight into the magnificent past of Potosi amidst its historical treasures such as the Casa Nacional de la Moneda, the silver mint born in 1759, or the Convento Museo Santa Teresa, where Sisters of the Carmelita continue to practice the same daily rituals as the nuns living here more than 300 years ago; or explore Potosi’s darker heritage as you tour the mines responsible for the incredible wealth of this majestic city, as well as the thousands of lives lost within this underground labyrinth.
