t All that glitters: visitors admiring the stunning pieces of pre-Columbian gold artifacts
Experience San José
Nestled amid craggy peaks, Costa Rica’s capital city enjoys a splendid setting with the Poás, Barva, and Irazú volcanoes rising over the city to the north, and the rugged Talamanca Mountains to the south. Founded in 1737, San José grew slowly through its first 100 years. Its creation on the eve of the coffee boom in the heart of coffee country, however, was advantageous. By the early 1800s, the town had grown to challenge Cartago – then capital – for supremacy. Following a brief civil war in 1823, San José replaced Cartago as capital and soon eclipsed other cities as prominent cafetaleros (coffee barons) imported skilled European artisans to beautify the city with fine structures. Among them is the opulent Teatro Nacional (National Theater). Paid for in 1897 by money raised through the controversial coffee tax, it remains a symbol of the golden age of Costa Rican coffee.
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