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42-507: The Hotel Europa was a grand hotel located in Maracaibo , Venezuela . It opened in the late 19th century and served as the filming location for the first Venezuelan film, Un célebre especialista sacando muelas en el gran Hotel Europa , in 1897. Later, it was converted into other hotels with different names, most notably the Hotel Zulia , before being demolished in 1956 for the construction of

84-423: A British overseas territory ). It was, during the colonial period, the most important harbour of the city of Mérida and a major center for the exportation of cocoa. Gibraltar was taken and ransacked in 1668 by the french pirate François l'Olonnais and one year later by Sir Henry Morgan . In 1678, Michel de Grammont captured and plundered the small town, penetrating as far inland as Trujillo . The damage

126-495: A Spanish treasure ship, which he captured, along with its rich cargo of cacao , gemstones and more than 260,000 pieces of eight . In March 1669, Henry Morgan sacked Maracaibo , which emptied when his fleet was first spied, and moved on to the Spanish settlement of Gibraltar on the inside of Lake Maracaibo in search of more treasure. A few weeks later, when he attempted to sail out of the lake, Morgan found an occupied fort blocking

168-448: A large metropolitan city, comprising two municipalities: the municipality of Maracaibo proper, and the municipality of San Francisco , established in 1995, to the south. In recent years, due to political/economic and cultural reasons, many have moved to Maracaibo from rural areas and other cities (including Caracas ). Maracaibo also boasts one of the best universities in the country, the state university, La Universidad del Zulia (LUZ)

210-555: A protected harbour, the city is located on the shores of the lake where the narrows, which eventually lead to the Gulf of Venezuela , first become pronounced. The Dutch corsair Henrik de Gerard plundered Maracaibo in 1614, and in 1642 the city was attacked by the British pirate William Jackson . In 1667, l'Olonnais with a fleet of eight ships and a crew of six hundred pirates sacked Maracaibo and Gibraltar. En route, l'Olonnais crossed paths with

252-520: A well-stocked service of "the most exquisite liquors" available. The hotel was advertised to offer good service for a reasonable price; this countered the main concerns of visitors to the area, which were reported as typically expensive yet dirty. The location of the hotel was also prime, situated near the center of the city, as guests could listen to the military displays taking place in Plaza Concordia from their balconies on Thursdays and Sundays; this

294-572: A young native who valiantly resisted the Spaniards and died fighting them. Legend says that when Mara fell, the Coquivacoa shouted " Mara cayó! " (" Mara fell! "), thus originating the city name—although it would be strange for them to shout in Spanish. Other historians say that the first name of this land in the local language was "Maara-iwo" meaning "Place where serpents abound". The first indigenous settlements were of Arawak and Carib origin. Around

336-558: Is twinned with: Gibraltar, Venezuela Gibraltar is a town located in Zulia State in Venezuela between Bobures to the south and Boscan to the north. It is on the shore of Maracaibo Lake . The population is around 4,000. It was founded as San Antonio de Gibraltar in February 1592 by Gonzalo Piña Ludueña and took its name from his home town, the then Spanish Gibraltar (now

378-500: Is considered the economic center of western Venezuela, owing to the petroleum industry that developed in the shores of Lake Maracaibo . It is sometimes known as "The First City of Venezuela", for being the first city in Venezuela to adopt various types of public services, including electricity, as well as for being located in the shores of Lake Maracaibo, where the name of Venezuela allegedly originates. Early indigenous settlements around

420-460: Is divided into 18 parishes as follows: Maracaibo is one of the hottest cities in Venezuela and all of South America as well. The rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta gives the city a hot semi-arid climate ( Köppen : BSh ) Attenuated only by the moderating influence of the lake; Maracaibo's average historical temperature is 29 °C (84.2 °F). In the past, the climate of

462-475: Is rife with stories about the creation of an independent and sovereign nation apart from Venezuela, a nation called La República Independiente del Zulia , 'the Independent Republic of Zulia', but this has never come to be. Come the 20th century, cars, buses, and lorries, with their constant flow of manufactured goods and agricultural product to and from the city port, depended on ferry services between

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504-476: Is well renowned for its excellent law, medical and engineering schools as many other disciplines. Other universities and schools include Universidad Dr. Rafael Belloso Chacín (URBE) and Universidad Rafael Urdaneta , with one of the country's leading psychology schools. However, recent political instability has led to the decline of the universidad. The Diocese of Maracaibo (23 July 1965) was elevated to Archdiocese on 30 April 1966 by Pope Paulus VI . Maracaibo

546-803: The Liga Profesional de Baloncesto de Venezuela. Its home is the 5.000-people Pedro Elías Belisario Aponte stadium. Other teams include the Unión Atlético Maracaibo and the Zulia FC in football , the Maracaibo Rugby Football Club and the Zulianos Rugby Club . In the 2000 Little League World Series , the Sierra Maestra Little League of Maracaibo, Venezuela defeated Bellaire Little League of Bellaire, Texas in

588-556: The Vineta bombarded the fort, setting fire to it and destroying it, with the death of 25 civilians in the nearby town. In 1908, the Friesland , Gelderland and Jacob van Heemskerck were sent to patrol the Venezuelan coast during the second Castro crisis . Friesland guarded the entry way to Maracaibo. The dictatorial regime of General Marcos Pérez Jiménez in the 1950s set as a goal

630-735: The French commander of six ships and 700 men, captured Maracaibo then followed the plundering of several smaller towns as Gibraltar , penetrating as far inland as Trujillo . In 1810, the province of Maracaibo did not join the First Republic of Venezuela and remained loyal to the Spanish crown . Maracaibo then held the seat of the Captaincy General of Venezuela . In 1821, uprisings in favor of independence began to lead to warfare and hostility. The royalists , led by Francisco Tomás Morales , fought with

672-570: The German warship SMS Panther attempted to enter Lake Maracaibo , which was a center of German commercial activity. On 17 January, it exchanged fire with the settlement of Fort San Carlos, but withdrew after half an hour, as shallow waters prevented it getting close enough to the fort to be effective. The Venezuelans claimed this as a victory, and in response the German commander sent the SMS Vineta , with heavier weapons, to set an example. On 21 January,

714-635: The Gothic word for "goat", which is the skin generally used for the membrane of the "furro" instrument. Other instruments used in gaita include maracas, cuatro, charrasca and tambora (Venezuelan drum). Song themes range from humorous and love songs to protest songs.The style became popular throughout Venezuela in the 1960s, and it fused with other styles such as salsa and merengue in the 1970s. Famous gaita groups include Maracaibo 15, Gran Coquivacoa, Barrio Obrero, Cardenales del Éxito, Koquimba, Melody Gaita, Guaco, Estrellas del Zulia, Saladillo, and many others. Maracaibo

756-490: The Hotel Zulia in 1913, which was accessed from Calle de las Ciencias. This hotel was financed by Doña Concha Iriarte, and had two storeys, with the guest rooms on the top floor. It was advertised as for "families, tourists, traveling agents, [and] oil tycoons". Typical rates at Maracaibo hotels in 1931 were $ 6 to $ 8 per day. The hotel was known as a meeting point for high society of the time, where guests and visitors could hear

798-512: The Maracaibo municipal building. The Hotel Europa opened at the end of the 19th century. It was situated at the south corner of Plaza Bolívar in the center of Maracaibo, facing the square. The building it occupied had been standing for a long time; it was considered at its time "the most beautiful" in the city. It had previously been the home of the Italian Consul, Don Francisco Fossi. The hotel

840-498: The Pérez Jiménez regime on January 23, 1958, quickly led to a less elaborate design project that was approved and funded by a democratic and more financially responsible government. The building of El Puente sobre el Lago de Maracaibo "General Rafael Urdaneta" (' General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge over Lake Maracaibo') named after the distinguished general and war of independence hero was opened to public traffic in 1962 connecting

882-615: The area were of Arawak and Carib origin. Maracaibo's founding date is disputed. There were failed attempts to found the city—in 1529, by Captain Ambrosio Ehinger , and in 1569, by Captain Alonso Pacheco. Founded in 1574 as Nueva Zamora de la Laguna de Maracaibo by Captain Pedro Maldonado, the city became a transshipment point for inland settlements after Gibraltar , at the head of the lake, had been destroyed by pirates in 1669. It

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924-608: The championship game of the 54th Little League World Series. The Coquivocoa Little League team from Maracaibo placed third in the 1974 Little League World Series . Rugby in Venezuela was first played in Maracaibo, thanks to the influence of the English community based on the Zulia State Team: Culture in Maracaibo maintains strong Indigenous influences, from its gaitas , desserts, style, and other customs. Most major houses of advertising in Venezuela acknowledge how different

966-530: The city and the eastern shore which was poorly connected to the country's motorway system. Maracaibo and the Lake Maracaibo region's economy was more linked to Colombia and the Caribbean than to eastern Venezuela due to the natural route available through Lake Maracaibo then leading to the sea. In January 1903, as the naval blockade of Venezuela continued during the negotiations with presidente Cipriano Castro ,

1008-447: The city to its opposite shore neighbors and the rest of the country through a new system of highways. The project was completed on schedule in 40 months. This bridge construction project was a remarkable feat. Built under very difficult conditions, when completed, it became the longest prestressed concrete bridge in the world. The structure is in constant use and remains today as the most important link between Maracaibo, along with much of

1050-402: The city, indeed all along the coast of Lake Maracaibo, was unhealthy due to the combination of high temperatures with high humidity. Today, control of plagues and the effects of urban development has largely eradicated these health problems. The registered high temperature of the city is 43.6 °C (110.5 °F), and the lowest is 18.8 °C (65.8 °F). Several universities are based in

1092-537: The city: Due to the regionalistic nature of Marabinos, they strongly support their native teams. Maracaibo, and the rest of Zulia, are represented in baseball by the Águilas del Zulia , a Venezuelan winter league team that plays in the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional , and is based in the Estadio Luis Aparicio El Grande . The city's basketball team is Gaiteros del Zulia , which plays in

1134-419: The construction of a bridge connecting the two lake shores. Various bridge projects for the spanning of the Lake Maracaibo narrows near the city were in the works. The general's government had decided that this "city of independent thought" should be more "connected" to the rest of the country. Proposals for a bridge design that included rail transport and tourist facilities were seriously considered. The fall of

1176-437: The culture of Maracaibo is from that of Caracas. Studies of both prove, for example, that Caracas' leading soft drink brand is Coke , while in Maracaibo it is Pepsi . This has made many brands create special localized advertising of their products (including several Pepsi commercials spoken by local celebrities). The Gaita is a style of Venezuelan folk music from Maracaibo. According to Joan Corominas , it may come from gaits,

1218-717: The inlet to the Caribbean, along with three Spanish ships. These were the Magdalena , the San Luis , and the Soledad . He destroyed the Magdalena and burned the San Luis by sending a dummy ship full of gunpowder to explode near them, after which the crew of the Soledad surrendered. By faking a landward attack on the fort, thereby convincing the Spanish governor to shift his cannon, he eluded their guns and escaped. In June 1678, Michel de Grammont ,

1260-693: The main group were the Añu tribe who built rows of stilt houses all over the northern riviera of Lake Maracaibo. The first Europeans arrived in 1499. The city was founded three times: the first time was during the Klein-Venedig period (1528–1546), when the Welser bankers of Augsburg received a concession over Venezuela Province from Charles I of Spain . In August 1529, the German Ambrosius Ehinger made his first expedition to Lake Maracaibo , which

1302-549: The music of Juan Delgado, Eduardo Perich, María de Ángela, Carmelita Suárez, and their students. It saw some refurbishment in 1928, opening the Zulia Tea Room on the ground level; this was a patisserie designed by Hermes Romero, a Zulian architect. However, by the 1930s, Doña Concha had left the business and it had become the Hotel América. This hotel served largely traveling businessmen and baseball players from elsewhere, as it

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1344-496: The patriots, led by Rafael Urdaneta , to take back control over the province in the Juana de Ávila Battle, and Morales brought back Spanish rule in 1822 until he was defeated in the Battle of Lake Maracaibo on 24 July 1823, culminating Venezuela's struggle for independence. For about 380 years, Maracaibo remained isolated and separated from the rest of the country. Transportation to the area

1386-468: The state of Zulia, and the rest of Venezuela. François de Pons , an agent to the French government in Caracas, provides some historical insight into the people of Maracaibo in his travel journal ( de Pons 1806 ). The following excerpts describe the local population of Maracaibo: He also notes the appreciation of literature, the arts, education, and culture among the people of Maracaibo: Maracaibo has become

1428-426: The zone made Nikolaus Federmann evacuate the village in 1535 and move its population to Santa Marta near the then capital of Venezuela Province , Santa Ana de Coro . A second attempt by Captain Alonso Pacheco in 1569 suffered a brief setback when the city had to be evacuated in 1573 due to ferocious attacks by native local tribes. The European settlement returned a short while later, in 1574, however, for which it

1470-447: Was bitterly opposed by the indigenous Coquivacoa . After winning a series of bloody battles, he founded the settlement on 8 September 1529. Ehinger named the settlement New Nuremberg ( German : Neu-Nürnberg ) and the lake after the valiant chieftain Mara of the Coquivacoa, who had died in the fighting. The city was renamed Maracaibo after the Spanish took possession. The lack of activity in

1512-565: Was close to both the city center and the Estadio del Lago in La Ciega. The building then passed to ownership by the municipal council and was retained as an administrative headquarters before being demolished in 1956 to construct a new Maracaibo municipal council building that would replace the entire block. 10°38′27.7″N 71°36′26.4″W  /  10.641028°N 71.607333°W  / 10.641028; -71.607333 Maracaibo Maracaibo

1554-413: Was not until the first decades of the 17th century that the first town was settled. Petroleum was discovered in 1917, leading to a large increase in population from migration. Maracaibo is served by La Chinita International Airport . The General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge connects Maracaibo to the rest of the country. The name Maracaibo is said to derive from the brave cacique (indigenous chief) Mara,

1596-574: Was possible through the lake via boats and ferries. Commerce and culture flowed between Maracaibo and the Caribbean Sea, particularly the Dutch Antilles, Colombian coastal cities, Cuba, Hispaniola and later on Miami, New York and Hamburg. This isolation from the rest of Venezuela was both a challenge and an advantage. The very nature of the city's location made for a population known for their independent thought and character. The history of this region

1638-470: Was re-founded by Captain Pedro Maldonado under Governor Diego de Mazariegos 's command and assuming the name of Nueva Zamora de Maracaibo. "Nueva Zamora" comes from Mazariego's place of birth, Zamora, in Spain. Since its definite foundation, the town began to develop as a whole. It is based on the western side of Lake Maracaibo , the dominant feature of the oil-rich Maracaibo Basin . Favored by prevailing winds and

1680-465: Was reportedly popular because of its efficient service, comfort, and the respectable management. The hotel was also considered prestigious, as it had many modern amenities and guest rooms were spacious with "all-American comfort" pieces including full bathtubs and marble-tiled showers. There were also suites for family visitors. The restaurant was ventilated and offered live music; the menu reportedly offered an extensive selection of European dishes and had

1722-422: Was seen as an exclusive attraction of the city. In 1897, the hotel was the filming location for the first Venezuelan-produced film, Un célebre especialista sacando muelas en el gran Hotel Europa . Later reports state that an innovation of hotels at the time, particularly the more modern Hotel Europa and its similar Hotel Los Andes, was to have on-hand medical services for foreign guests. The Hotel Europa became

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1764-578: Was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1985. Since November 2000, its Archbishop has been Ubaldo Ramón Santana Sequera . In 2019, power outages and widespread poverty caused a citywide wave of violence and looting, resulting in mass emigration, most of which was headed to the United States. Zulia's main income comes from oil extraction and refining, agriculture (coffee, rice, maize, cassava, cocoa, sugar cane), livestock production, and mining (clay, limestone, coal and sand ). The municipality of Maracaibo

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