Museo Casa de la Libertad

Description:

• The United States has Liberty Hall in Philadelphia; Bolivia has the equivalent in Museo Casa de la Libertad. On August 6, 1825, the freedom fighters of Bolivia assembled here to declare independence from Spain. You can visit the exact room where the liberators met. Now known as the Salón de la Independencia, it's filled with portraits of the great liberators and baroque-style wood chairs painted in gold leaf. The portrait here of Simón Bolívar is believed to be the most lifelike reproduction of the great independence hero.

  The museum complex was originally part of a Jesuit university that dates from 1624 (one of the oldest in Bolivia). In addition to the Salón de la Independencia, there are several galleries here dedicated to the history of Bolivia. Items on display include the first Argentine flag (the Bolivians refuse to return it to Argentina, saying "We are all the same"), a copy of the Bolivian declaration of independence, and paintings of the city of Sucre in the independence era. There's also a room dedicated to Mariscal Sucre, the first president of Bolivia. Plan on spending about 45 minutes here.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010