• Venezuela's long history is written in its monuments.bolivar image by thierry planche from Fotolia.com
  
  Venezuela is a tropical country located on the northern coast of South America. Caracas is the capital of Venezuela, and it also is the cultural and historic center of the country. Most of Venezuela's monuments are located in Caracas, giving visitors many sites to take in during their visit to the city.
  
  

El Capitolio Nacional

• Built in 1870, El Capitolio Nacional is Venezuela's capital building and one of the most recognizable monuments in the country. The building was constructed during the time of President Antonio Guzman Blanco and consists of two buildings, the Federal Palace and the Legislative Palace; the entire building is home to the National Assembly. Situated on the southwest edge of Plaza Bolizar, the building is a popular destination for Venezuelans, especially during the month of July when The Act of Independence is put on display for the anniversary of its signing, July 5, 1811.
  
  El Capitolio Nacional
  Esquina Padre Sierra
  Caracas, Venezuela
  +58-212-507-8815
  
  

Nacional Pantheon

• The Nacional Pantheon is the final resting place for many notable Venezuelans, most famously Simon Bolivar, the Venezuelan political leader who was central to gaining the country's independence from Spain. The entire central nave of the Pantheon is dedicated to Bolivar, with his massive bronze sarcophagus placed centrally in the chancel and the path leading to it painted with scenes from Bolivar's life. Nearly 150 white-stone tombs fill the Pantheon, including several symbolically empty tombs that are dedicated to Venezuelan political prisoners whose bodies have not been found. Originally built to replace a church destroyed in the 1812 earthquake, the Pantheon continued as a place of worship until 1874, when President Guzman Blanco dedicated it as a resting place for Venezuelan luminaries. The Pantheon stands at the northern edge of Caracas, five blocks north of Plaza Bolivar.
  
  Nacional Pantheon
  Avenida Norte
  Caracas, Venezuela
  +58-212-862-1518
  
  

Monumento a Los Simbolos

• Monumento a Los Simbolos is located at the juncture of Los Ilustres and Los Simbolos Avenida in Caracas. The monument stands on a marble pedestal and features three figures depicting the shield, flag and anthem of Venezuela. The shield was designed in 1836, was modified in 1953 and is undergoing another change as of 2010. The flag, which was first flown before independence in 1806 by Francisco de Miranda, features horizontal yellow, blue and red stripes, with seven stars forming an arch. The anthem of Venezuela was written in the 1820s, just after the country's independence. The Monumentos a Los Simbolos is one of the most-visited sites in the city.
  
  Monumentos a Los Simbolos
  Union de las Avenidas Los Ilustres con Los Simbolos
  Caracas, Venezuela
  +58-2-541-6063