Venezuela - Venezuela

Venezuela
Location
Capital	Caracas
Government	presidential republic
Currency	Sovereign Bolivar (VES)
Surface	916,445 km²
Inhabitants	28.946.101 (2011 census)
Tongue	Spanish
Religion	Catholicism (92%) and the rest atheists or minor religions (2008)
Electricity	120V / 60Hz (American plug)
Prefix	58
TLD	.ve
Time zone	UTC-4: 30
Website	Government site[link not working]

Venezuela is a state of South America

ATTENTION: In light of the continuing social tensions and the shortage of food, medicine, drinking water and electricity, the Farnesina "recommends postponing unnecessary travel to the country"There are frequent protests that often degenerate into clashes with the police or the army, sometimes even causing victims.Updated on 23/07/2017 - page of the Farnesina website - Website page of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

To know

Geographical notes

The Venezuela it overlooks the Caribbean Sea to the north, to the south and south-east it borders the Brazil, to the east with the Guyana and to the west and southwest with the Colombia.

The country is regarded as one of the 17 countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world, with a geography that combines tropical and desert regions, with forests and great plains. In Venezuela there is the largest protected area in Latin America, which covers about 63% of the national territory.

Background

Christopher Columbus, on his journey to the Americas in 1498, discovered this region and, the following year, Amerigo Vespucci, gave it its current name.

In the 16th century, the Spain acquired this territory within his empire, and remained in this condition until 1811, the year of its independence from the Iberian country.

Spoken languages

The official language of the Venezuela it is Spanish.

According to the new constitution, published in 1999 by President Hugo Chávez, some indigenous languages, spoken by about 170,000 Venezuelans, belonging to the Indian ethnic groups, are co-official with Spanish.

These languages ​​are:

• Arawako
• Caribe
• Chibcha
• Guahibana
• Makú
• Saliva
• Tupí
• Yanomama

Territories and tourist destinations

      Venezuelan Andes - The mountainous region located in the westernmost part of the country includes the states of Mérida, Táchira is Trujillo

      Venezuelan Caribbean islands - Includes over 600 islands

      Central Venezuela - The most populous part of the country, there is the capital Caracas and the centers of Miranda is Vargas

      Venezuelan Guayana - The immense and uninhabited area south of the Orinoco River includes almost half of the state's territory, including areas of the Amazon rainforest, the highlands of Gran Sabana and the state of Bolívar and the marshy plains of the Orinoco delta.

      Los Llanos - Vast plain dedicated to cattle breeding, includes the states of Apure, Barinas, Cojedes, Guárico is Portuguesa

      Northeast Venezuela - The deserted beaches of Anzoátegui he was born in Sucre, as well as the hills and caves of the state of Monagas

      Northwest Venezuela - The oil zones of the state of Zulia, this region also includes the beaches of Falcón and the agricultural area of Yaracuy is Lara.

Urban centers

Venezuela: full screen map.

Other destinations

See also: national parks of Venezuela.

How to get

Entry requirements

Citizens of 69 states can enter Venezuela for a period of up to 90 days (with some exceptions) for tourism and, with the exception of citizens of Bolivia and Colombia, can request an extension of the period of stay for a further 90 days; exempt citizens are those ofEuropean Union, of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina (even with only an identity card), Australia, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia (hotel reservation or invitation letter required), Brazil (even with only an identity card), Canada, Chile (even with only an identity card), Colombia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Ecuador (even with only an identity card), Jamaica, Japan, Grenada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iran (only for a maximum of 15 days), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zeland, Norway, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru (even with only an identity card), Principality of Monaco, Dominican Republic, Russia (for a maximum of 90 days in any 180 day period), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, South Africa, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey ed Uruguay (even with only an identity card).

Access with the identity card to citizens who are allowed to do so allows them only the tourist trip; for tourism purposes other nationalities will have to obtain a visa before arriving in Venezuela (for other purposes there may be exemptions), while the situation of citizens of Benin is Ghana is evolving (these states have signed agreements with Venezuela but have not yet entered into force).

By plane

Simon Bolivar International Airport

The Venezuela has four airports:

• Simon Bolivar International Airport, the main one, about 20 km from Caracas
• Airport of Merida
• La Chinita International Airport, a Maracaibo
• Airport of Los Roques

On boat

In the city of La Guaira the main port of the country is located.

How to get around

What see

Museum of Contemporary Art

• Virgen de la Paz
• Paseo Los Proceres
• The Puerta de los Llanos in San Juan de los Morros
• La Estancia Art Center
• Casa Natal & Bolivar Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• Galería de Arte Nacional & Museo de Bellas Artes

What to do

Currency and purchases

The national currency is the Venezuelan Bolívar (VEF) Here are the links to know the current exchange rate with the main world currencies:

At the table

Tourist infrastructure

Events and parties

National holidays

• Independence Day (April 19)
• Labor Day (1st May)
• Anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo (June 24)
• National holiday (5 July)
• Columbus Day (October 12)
• Feast of San Juan (June 24)

Safety

Before embarking on the journey consult:

• Safe travel - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Farnesina) (Country safety information). 

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers certain areas of the country dangerous for tourists due to robberies, petty crime, terrorism linked to drug trafficking and kidnappings for extortion purposes.

Health situation

Respect the customs

How to keep in touch

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Venezuela
• Commons contains images or other files on Venezuela
• Wikisource contains original works by or about Venezuela
• Wikinews contains current news on Venezuela