El Ávila National Park is a major landmark in Caracas, yet not everyone knows that it houses a secret military bunker built during the 1950s by the Venezuelan dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez. This bunker, known as "La Planicie," remains one of the hidden historical sites within the park.
Caracas is home to the El Hatillo Municipality, a preserved colonial town that dates back to the 18th century. Unlike other parts of the city, El Hatillo retains its cobbled streets and colonial architecture, making it a picturesque spot often overlooked by locals and tourists alike.
The University City of Caracas, designed by architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It features an open-air museum with works by artists like Alexander Calder and Jean Arp. One lesser-known fact is that it includes a labyrinth created by the artist Mateo Manaure, which few visitors explore.
At the Galipán village, situated on the northern slope of Ávila, one can find a community that has preserved its way of life since the Spanish colonial period. Galipán is known for its flower plantations and local gastronomy, yet it remains a hidden gem where you can still experience traditional Venezuelan rural life.
The Caricuao Zoo, although not as popular as other attractions, is one of the largest zoos in Latin America, covering 630 hectares. It also serves as a botanical garden and is home to a variety of wildlife and plant species native to Venezuela.
The National Pantheon of Venezuela, where national heroes are buried, is not just a historical site but also an architectural marvel. It features a mural by the artist Tito Salas, depicting the history of Venezuela. Few know that beneath the Pantheon lies a crypt that was initially intended for Simón Bolívar.
Petare, one of the largest and oldest neighborhoods in Caracas, dates back to 1621. Despite its reputation for being a high-density, low-income area, Petare has a historic center with colonial buildings, churches, and plazas that reflect its rich cultural heritage.
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Caracas houses one of the most important collections of modern and contemporary art in Latin America. It includes works by Picasso, Miró, and Chagall. An interesting trivia is that the museum also has an extensive collection of kinetic art, largely thanks to the Venezuelan artist Jesús Rafael Soto.
The East Park (Parque del Este), now officially named Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Park, is a green oasis in the city. Designed by Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, it features a replica of the ship Leander, used by Francisco de Miranda in his failed attempt to liberate Venezuela from Spanish rule.
Finally, Caracas is home to the Helicoid, a unique piece of architecture designed to be a spiraling shopping mall and leisure complex. Although it was never completed and was later converted into a headquarters for the secret police, its futuristic design remains a point of intrigue and mystery.