Culture and cultural events

Culture history
The Isla Margarita was already sighted 1498 by Christoph Columbus on its travel after Santo Domingo the first time.
The first settlement of South America developed only two years later on Cubagua. Perls were the reason and are still found there today. In 1535 Espirito Santo was founded, later called Pueblo del la Mar whi is today´s Porlamar. In the course of the 16. Century Margarita was attacked again and again by Dutch, French and English Pirates. For protection the Spanish build during their colonial time on Margarita a variety of forts. These forts can be visited today and admired as mute witnesses of Margarita´s history. Besides the monuments Margarita is represented in different museums around the island. In the small villages one can still see nature monuments as well as arts and craftsmanship .

1. Fortresses and monuments
Everywhere on the island one finds Forts as defense against attacks from the sea.

• Castillo de Santa Rosa
The Castillo is ubicated south of the city of La Asuncion, the capital of the island. The fortress was built in the time from 1667 to 1683 and saw many violently confrontations. Opening times: daily from 8:00 to 20:00 o'clock´


• Iglesia Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion
The church at the Plaza Bolivar in La Asuncion is the second oldest church of Latin America and represents one of the most important examples of the early Sakralarchitektur Venezuela. Commencement of construction was in the year 1750. The portal is in the Renaissance style built while the remaining fassada was kept relatively simple.


• Fortin de la Galera
The small fortification was built 1811 in Juangriego and served during the independence fights as scene for bloody battles. Today it is a point of attraction for tourists. Whoever understands Spanish can listen to the children who tell the story at the fort by sunset every day. La Galera is probaly one of the most beautiful settings in Margarita to watch the sunset and then finish the day with a lovely dinner in one of the excellent nearby restaurants.


• Fortín España
The fortress lies before the gates of the place Santa Ana del Norte and served as protection for the area between Juangriego and La Asunción.


• Castillo San Carlos de Borromeo
It is situated at the port of Pampatars and was of greatest importance in the defense against Pirates. It served primarily the protection for Pampatar. It was built between 1664 and 1684 under the direction of Carlo Navarro. The fortress was completely destroyed by the dutch in 1662. It was completely restored in 1968 but was dilapidated in the course of the following 30 years due to lack of maintenance. It is now once again being restored with minimum financial means. The view of the bay of Pampatar is spectacular. Opening times: daily 8:00 to 18:30 o'clock


• Fortín Santiago de la Caranta
On the other side of the bay of Pampatar lies the ruin of the Forts Santiogo de La Caranta, which was built between 1586 and 1595. It was destroyed 1626 by an attack of Dutch Pirates.


• Iglesia Santuario de Nuestra Senora del Valle
The Valley of the Holly Spirit (El Valle del Espiritu Santo) is a pretty, tree shaded colonial village. Surrounded by green hills, this small village was Margaritas first Capital, founded by Isabel Manrique de Villalobos in 1529. In front of the shady Santiago Marino Plaza, is a flamboyant, Neo-gothic Church which houses the image of a 16h century Virgin venerated by fishermen and boatmen. History tells that it was destined for Peru and mistakenly unloaded in Cubagua Island. When the island of Cubagua suffered earth tremors and tidal waves, people evacuated and brought the Virgin to Margarita. Since then, thousands of pilgrims have come to pray and ask favors on Her feast day (Sept. 8) even Pope John Paul II came to consecrate Her as the patron saint of the Venezuelan Navy. Adjacent is the Diocesan Museum where hundreds of religious silver and gold offerings and the Virgin’s jeweled robes are displayed. Look out for a rare pearl in the form of a leg which was offered by a fishermen who promised; “I’ll offer the first pearl that I find if you will cure my leg” (which had been bitten by a stingray). He recovered satisfactorily, and the biggest surprise was that the first pearl he found was shaped like a leg! Location: 2.5 Km northwest of Porlamar.
Opening times: daily 09:00 to 12:00 o'clock and 14:00 to 17:00 o'clock, Sundays 09:00 to 13:00 o'clock

2. Museums

• Museo Marino
The museum is by the Laguna la Restinga on the Macanao side of the island. Local species of the underwater world are shown in different aquariums and old instruments of traditional fishing are on display. An attendance of the museum can be combined well with a boat trip through the national park Laguna la to Restinga, where one can see sea horses, crabs and pelicans in natura. Opening times: daily 09:00 to 17:00 o'clo


• Museo de Arte Popular Venezolano "Tacuantar"
The museum situated at the point Tacuantar between La Restinga and Juan Griego. Pepe from the Canary islands made here his dream come true. He exhibits in little wooden huts rural tools from the different regions of Venezuela. A little restaurant is part of this museum. Opening times: daily in the morning opened.


• Museo de Arte Contemporáneo "Francisco Narváez"
The museum lies in the Calle Igualdad in Porlamar and is dedicated to the most important artist of the island, Francisco Narváez. In the exhibition one can see his art over the different epochs. Today also different local artist found a firm exhibition place in the museum beside Narváez.
Opening times: Tuesday until Friday 09:00 to 17:00 o'clock, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 15:00 o'clock


• Casa Natal del Santiago Marino
In El Valle del Espiritu stands the birth house of the important freedom fighter Santiago Marino, which was reconstructed in twenty years of laborious work. In the house one finds furniture of the beginning of the 19. Century, contemporary restaurant art and letters, documents and honours displayed. A sign points the way. opening times of the Plaza Marino: daily 09:00 to 16:00 o'clock


• Museo Historico Nueva Cádiz
The museum lies north the Plaza Bolivar in La Asuncion. On exhibition are remaining objects of the very first city in South America, Nueva Cadiz, which was founded 1500 on the island Cubagua but already destroyed by sea-quake completely in 1541. Opening times: Monday 09:00 to 13:00 o'clock, Tuesday until Sunday 09:00 to 17:00 o'clock.

3. Folklore and arts and crafts

• La virgen del valle
The Valley of the Holly Spirit (El Valle del Espiritu Santo) is a pretty, tree shaded colonial village. Surrounded by green hills, this small village was Margaritas first Capital, founded by Isabel Manrique de Villalobos in 1529. In front of the shady Santiago Marino Plaza, is a flamboyant, Neo-gothic Church which houses the image of a 16h century Virgin venerated by fishermen and boatmen. History tells that it was destined for Peru and mistakenly unloaded in Cubagua Island. When the island of Cubagua suffered earth tremors and tidal waves, people evacuated and brought the Virgin to Margarita. Since then, thousands of pilgrims have come to pray and ask favors on Her feast day (Sept. 8) even Pope John Paul II came to consecrate Her as the patron saint of the Venezuelan Navy. Adjacent is the Diocesan Museum where hundreds of religious silver and gold offerings and the Virgin’s jeweled robes are displayed. Look out for a rare pearl in the form of a leg which was offered by a fishermen who promised; “I’ll offer the first pearl that I find if you will cure my leg” (which had been bitten by a stingray). He recovered satisfactorily, and the biggest surprise was that the first pearl he found was shaped like a leg! Location: 2.5 Km northwest of Porlamar.


• Velorios de Cruz de Mayo
This celebration is celebrated each year on the 5 of May. Religious people prove their faith at the symbol of the cross. Flowers and colorful papers are laid down. A special kind of slow music is played, different people sing traditional songs. Particularly fischermen and farmers use the celebration to ask the Virgin for a good catch or a good harvest.


• El Carite
El Carite is a traditional folklore dance of Nueva Esparta. It tells the story of fischermen in dance and singing.
Fishermen wear traditional clothing.


• Tacarigua
This sleepy village lies in the midst of a green, agriculturally used area. In Tacarigua there are many small shops at the main street, which offer multicolored hammocks and handtwisted baskets for reasonable prices.


• La Fronda
Because it is an artificial village, situated at the road between Porlamar and Playa el Agua. In different Kioskos are offered arts and crafts, venezolanische food and island-typical meals.

4. Natural monuments

• Tetas de Maria Guevara
Northeast of Punta Piedras rise two hills of about 100 meters into the sky. They are shaped like two breasts and form the landmark of Margarita. Since the beginning of Margaritan settlements the Tetas de Maria Guevara helped the sailors in orientation because even if the high mountains lay hidden in clouds, sighted the Tetas could still be seen and recognized from afar. The origin of the name is unclear. The proud Margaritenos would like it best if Maria Guevara had been a courageous fighter for liberty. Some say however that she was a well known prostitute.


• Cerro El Copey
Between El Valle del Espiritu Santio and La Asunción rises the mountain El Copey. Its highest peak has the Cerro San Juan with 903 meters. Damp-tropical climate promote the groth of a rich vegetation. Farmers go on foot daily uphill to work on tiny plantations of café oranges and bananas.


• Laguna la Restinga
The extensive mangrove area between Margarita and Macanao was made a national park. The different kinds of mangroves offer habitat for most diverse animal species particularly famous are sea horses, sea stars and birds. A boat trip through the channels in the mangroves offers breath-taking sights. The 17.000ha large lagoon played an important role in the history of Margarita during the wars of independence, because freedom fighters would hide in the mangroves from the conquerers.


• Laguna de las Marites
The smaller sister of the Laguna la Restinga lies between La Isleta and El Yaque and covers an area of approx. 3700ha. Similarly also this lagoon offers habitat to a great variety of birds and amphibians. It is not touristicly organized. Interested tourists should ask the resident fishermen in El Yaque for a boat trip.


• Cerro de Matasiete
Northeast from "La Asunción" lies the 660 meters high, green shining mountain Cerro de Matasiete. At the foot of the mountain a for Margarita historically significant moment took place. The final crucial fight for the independence of the island was fought and won here. The big hero was "Francisco Esteban Gómez" from "Santa Ana".