Barquisimeto

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File:Jacinto Lara.jpg]]

Barquisimeto was founded in 1552 by Juan de Villegas, as a headquarters and to have better control of the territory believed to be rich in gold. Its original name was Nueva Segovia de Barquisimeto and then it was shortened to just Barquisimeto.

This city changed locations four times between 1552 and 1563. The original settlement was near the Buría River, but moved in 1556 due to frequent floods suffered by inhabitants. The second location was in the valley of the Turbio River, where the city stayed until Lope de Aguirre burned it down in 1561. The city was rebuilt {{convert|102|km|0|abbr=on}}, but in 1562 they inhabitants asked for permission to move to another site due to strong winds blowing in the place. Finally, Barquisimeto was located on the north plateau of the Turbio River in 1563.

During the country's independence, Barquisimeto joined the liberation movement and its deputy José Ángel Álamo signed the Independence Act on July 5, 1811.

In 1929, the city went through a modernization program carried out by General Juan Vicente Gomez. He fixed the streets and avenues and buildings were built, like the Jacinto Lara Headquarters, the Government Palace and the Ayacucho Park.

According to the German adventurer Nikolaus Federmann, the Caquetío aborigines used to call it Variquicimeto, which translates as "ash-colored river", the name with which the natives distinguished the water stream near the city. This river was named "Turbio River" by the Spanish conquerors, a name that is still in use today. Another possible name origin is due to a red dye called bariquí.

When Juan de Villegas founded it, he named the city "Nueva Segovia de Barquisimeto", but years later it became just "Barquisimeto", a word popularized by Oviedo y Baños in his book History and Conquest of the Venezuelan Population.

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The city's modern Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the cathedral of the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Barquisimeto.

File:Procesionpastora.jpg

File:Santa Iglesia Catedral Metropolitana, Catedral de Barquisimeto.jpg]]

The Divina Pastora (Divine Shepherdess) is a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, with a lamb at her side. It is considered to be one of the most important religious icons of Venezuela. Divina Pastora is the patron saint of the city of Barquisimeto and of the Venezuelan National Militia. The original image dates from 1735. Divina Pastora is celebrated in a procession on January 14 of each year, when a massive Marian procession occurs, considered to be one of the largest in the world, attracting thousands of pilgrims.

The statue is removed from its shrine and is carried on the main streets of Barquisimeto in a procession which starts at the Iglesia de la Divina Pastora in Santa Rosa until it reaches the Barquisimeto Cathedral. This procession is unlike other mass Marian celebrations in the world, where the image does not leave its temple. This procession occurs due to the devotion the people of Barquisimeto have towards it as gratitude towards saving the city from a cholera outbreak that occurred in the city in the 19th century. In 2013, 3,000,000 faithful honored the Divina Pastora.

File:Este de Barquisimeto.jpg

File:Capilla San Miguel vista desde otro ángulo, Museo de Barquisimeto.jpg

Barquisimeto is located on the terrace of the same name, on the banks of the Turbio River, {{convert|622|m|-1|abbr=off}} above sea level and a population of 930,000 inhabitants.{{cite web|title=Built-up urban areas by land area (urban footprint)|url=http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua-t2.pdf|website=Demographia|date=December 2016|access-date=4 June 2017}} It has a location on the central western of Venezuela ({{convert|363|km|0|abbr=on}} from Caracas, the country's capital city), being a point of convergence of many of the major land routes and rail, characterized also by its street order and appropriate signage due to the location of the city with a relief almost completely flat, which facilitated the distribution of the urban grid and with the streets numbered in ascending numerical order, factors that help the foreign citizen and easily locate addresses. Its climate is pleasant in the months of December to March, with an average temperature of {{convert|26|°C|0|abbr=on}} throughout the year.

• North: Urdaneta Municipality
• South: Palavecino Municipality
• East: Peña Municipality, Yaracuy State
• West: Jiménez and Torres Municipalities.

• 6.6 (8/3/1950)
• 5.6 (3/5/1975)
• 6.3 (9/12/2009)

File:El_centro_y_el_Este._Barquisimeto..jpg

File:Barquisimeto de Noche.jpg

In the city, a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) is dominant. Located in that region, Barquisimeto records {{convert|550|mm|1|disp=or}} of rain per year and its average temperature ranges {{convert|25|C|F}}. However, in higher regions near the Andes, temperatures are lower and the rain is more constant. For instance, in Sanare city, the annual average rainfall is {{convert|835|mm|1|disp=or}}.

{{Weather box |width = auto|location = Barquisimeto, Venezuela (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2020)

|single line = Yes

|metric first = Yes

|open = yes

|Jan record high C = 38.0

|Feb record high C = 36.6

|Mar record high C = 39.4

|Apr record high C = 35.9

|May record high C = 35.6

|Jun record high C = 35.9

|Jul record high C = 35.9

|Aug record high C = 39.6

|Sep record high C = 36.3

|Oct record high C = 34.8

|Nov record high C = 35.2

|Dec record high C = 33.9

|year record high C = 39.6

|Jan high C = 30.9

|Feb high C = 31.8

|Mar high C = 32.3

|Apr high C = 31.8

|May high C = 31.3

|Jun high C = 30.6

|Jul high C = 30.4

|Aug high C = 31.1

|Sep high C = 31.5

|Oct high C = 30.9

|Nov high C = 30.7

|Dec high C = 30.5

|year high C = 31.1

|Jan mean C = 23.5

|Feb mean C = 24.0

|Mar mean C = 24.7

|Apr mean C = 25.1

|May mean C = 25.0

|Jun mean C = 24.3

|Jul mean C = 24.0

|Aug mean C = 24.3

|Sep mean C = 24.7

|Oct mean C = 24.5

|Nov mean C = 24.3

|Dec mean C = 23.8

|year mean C = 24.4

|Jan low C = 19.1

|Feb low C = 19.4

|Mar low C = 20.3

|Apr low C = 21.4

|May low C = 21.6

|Jun low C = 21.2

|Jul low C = 20.9

|Aug low C = 21.0

|Sep low C = 21.2

|Oct low C = 21.2

|Nov low C = 21.0

|Dec low C = 20.0

|year low C = 20.7

|Jan record low C = 13.4

|Feb record low C = 13.2

|Mar record low C = 12.6

|Apr record low C = 15.2

|May record low C = 16.5

|Jun record low C = 16.1

|Jul record low C = 16.4

|Aug record low C = 15.4

|Sep record low C = 15.4

|Oct record low C = 11.1

|Nov record low C = 15.0

|Dec record low C = 13.8

|year record low C = 11.1

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 12.1

|Feb rain mm = 9.7

|Mar rain mm = 18.6

|Apr rain mm = 52.1

|May rain mm = 59.2

|Jun rain mm = 75.5

|Jul rain mm = 61.6

|Aug rain mm = 56.3

|Sep rain mm = 50.7

|Oct rain mm = 72.1

|Nov rain mm = 58.1

|Dec rain mm = 39.8

|year rain mm = 565.8

|unit rain days = 1.0 mm

|Jan rain days = 2.4

|Feb rain days = 1.5

|Mar rain days = 2.3

|Apr rain days = 6.2

|May rain days = 7.6

|Jun rain days = 11.6

|Jul rain days = 10.4

|Aug rain days = 8.9

|Sep rain days = 7.0

|Oct rain days = 8.8

|Nov rain days = 6.2

|Dec rain days = 5.4

|year rain days = 78.3

|Jan humidity = 68.5

|Feb humidity = 66.5

|Mar humidity = 65.5

|Apr humidity = 70.0

|May humidity = 74.0

|Jun humidity = 75.0

|Jul humidity = 74.5

|Aug humidity = 73.0

|Sep humidity = 72.5

|Oct humidity = 73.0

|Nov humidity = 73.0

|Dec humidity = 72.0

|year humidity = 71.5

|Jan sun = 260.4

|Feb sun = 235.2

|Mar sun = 241.8

|Apr sun = 183.0

|May sun = 192.2

|Jun sun = 201.0

|Jul sun = 232.5

|Aug sun = 241.8

|Sep sun = 228.0

|Oct sun = 226.3

|Nov sun = 222.0

|Dec sun = 248.0

|year sun = 2712.2

|Jand sun = 8.4

|Febd sun = 8.4

|Mard sun = 7.8

|Aprd sun = 6.1

|Mayd sun = 6.2

|Jund sun = 6.7

|Juld sun = 7.5

|Augd sun = 7.8

|Sepd sun = 7.6

|Octd sun = 7.3

|Novd sun = 7.4

|Decd sun = 8.0

|yeard sun = 7.4

|source 1 = NOAA (sun 1971–1990){{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240207193628/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-3-WMO-Normals-9120/Venezuela/CSV/BARQUISIMETO_80410.csv

| archive-date = 7 February 2024

| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-3-WMO-Normals-9120/Venezuela/CSV/BARQUISIMETO_80410.csv

| title = Barquisimeto Climate Normals 1991–2020

| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = 7 February 2024}}{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240207193504/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-III/VN/80410.TXT

| archive-date = 7 February 2024

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-III/VN/80410.TXT

| title = Barquisimeto Climate Normals 1961–1990

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = 7 February 2024}}

|source 2 = Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología (humidity 1970–1998){{cite web|url=http://www.inameh.gob.ve/documentos/ESTADISTICOS_BASICOS_TyHR_EXTREM.pdf |title=Estadísticos Básicos Temperaturas y Humedades Relativas Máximas y Mínimas Medias |work=INAMEH |language=es |url-status=dead |access-date=29 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615065531/http://www.inameh.gob.ve/documentos/ESTADISTICOS_BASICOS_TyHR_EXTREM.pdf |archive-date=15 June 2013 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.inameh.gob.ve/documentos/ESTADISTICOS_BASICOS_TyHR_MEDIAS.pdf |title=Estadísticos Básicos Temperaturas y Humedades Relativas Medias |work=INAMEH |language=es |url-status=dead |access-date=29 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615085231/http://www.inameh.gob.ve/documentos/ESTADISTICOS_BASICOS_TyHR_MEDIAS.pdf |archive-date=15 June 2013 }}

|date=October 2012

}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}

File:Mosaico Rectorado UCLA.jpg]]

File:Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Paz, Santuario La Paz, Iglesia Siervas del Santísimo Sacramento, vista 2.jpg

Barquisimeto is a city with a historic vocation by academic knowledge, and boasts a considerable sample of universities and institutes of higher education in Venezuela, has a high and growing student population from all over the country.

Major universities in the city include Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado and Universidad Nacional Experimental Politécnica Antonio José de Sucre.

;Public institutions

• Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado ([http://www.ucla.edu.ve/ UCLA])
• National Polytechnic Experimental University Antonio José de Sucre ([http://www.bqto.unexpo.edu.ve/ UNEXPO])
• Libertador's Experimental and Pedagogical University ([https://web.archive.org/web/20111004201928/http://www.upel.edu.ve/ UPEL])
• Andrés Eloy Blanco's Territorial and Polytechnic of Lara University ([http://www.iuetaeb.tec.ve/ IUETAEB] - former Andrés Eloy Blanco's Experimental and Technology Institute)
• National Open University ([https://web.archive.org/web/20100328125750/http://www.una.edu.ve/ UNA])
• Simón Rodríguez's National Experimental University ([https://web.archive.org/web/20070114163943/http://www.unesr.edu.ve/ UNESR])
• Central University of Venezuela ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140328201320/http://www.ucv.ve/ UCV] - Barquisimeto's Regional Center)
• Bolivarian University of Venezuela ([http://www.ubv.edu.ve/ UBV])
• National Experimental University of the Armed Forces ([http://www.unefa.edu.ve/ UNEFA])

;Private institutions

• Fermin Toro University ([https://web.archive.org/web/20200311131615/http://www.uft.edu.ve/ UFT])
• Yacambú University ([http://www.uny.edu.ve/ UNY])
• Fermin Toro College ([https://web.archive.org/web/20070118022208/http://www.cuft.tec.ve/ CUFT])
• Rodolfo Loero Arismendi Technology and Industrial Institute ([http://www.iutirla.com/ IUTIRLA])
• National Institute of Socialist Education and Capacitation ([http://www.inces.gob.ve/ INCES])
• Antonio José de Sucre Technology Institute ([http://www.universidades24.com/iutajs-antonio-jose-sucre-barquisimeto.htm/ IUTAJS])
• Jesús Obrero Institute ([https://web.archive.org/web/20111213153014/http://www.iujobarquisimeto.edu.ve/ IUJO])

File:Sambil Barquisimeto 01.jpg

File:La Flor de Hannover esta en Venezuela..jpg

• Clínica IDB Barquisimeto

Address: Carrera 19 esquina calle 34

• Clínica Razetti de Barquisimeto

Address: Carrera 21

• Policlínica Barquisimeto

Address: Av. Lara (paseo Los Leones y calle Madrid)

• Previmédica IDB Los Abogados

Address: Av. Los Abogados (calles 16 y 17). 50 mts. from Av. Vargas

• Previmédica IDB Centro

Address: Calle 34 (carreras 19 y 20)

• Previmédica IDB Oeste

Address: Av. Pedro León Torres (calle 59). CC Sotavento

• Hospital Central Universitario Antonio María Pineda

Address: Av. Libertador

• Hospital Dr. Luis Gómez López

Address: Barrio La Feria

File:Teatro juares.jpg|Juares Theater

File:Catedral de Barquisimeto interior.jpg|Barquisimeto Cathedral Inside

File:Este de barquisimeto.jpg|Barquisimeto East

File:Cuatro de Barquisimeto.jpg|Cuatro of Barquisimeto

File:Cuartel General Jacinto Lara, (Barquisimeto) vista frontal.jpg|Barracks General Jacinto Lara

File:Laguna Artificial en Parque Zoologico Barquisimeto.jpg|Lagoon in Zoo Park of Barquisimeto

File:OBELISCO DE BARQUISIMETO.JPG|Obelisk of Barquisimeto

File:Parque Cardenalito.jpg|La Tinaja

File:IglesiaSantaRosa.jpg|Santa Rosa Church

File:Plaza bolivar de barquisimeto.jpg|Bolívar Square

The Transbarca system is a new "bus rapid transit" (BRT) system under construction, which was originally planned to use trolleybuses. When construction began, in 2006, the system was projected to serve an average of 170,000 people per day when completed, using 80 trolleybuses operating along {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} of exclusive lanes, across the metropolitan area. Service was planned to include an express route of {{convert|22|km|mi|abbr=on}} along with one local route of {{convert|8|km|mi|sigfig=1|abbr=on}}. With 52 stations, the BRT system is to include a centralized system of communication and security, and structures for easy access for elderly and disabled people. It is to be complemented with feeder routes, covering the areas of Greater Barquisimeto the BRT line will not serve, which will connect with the main line at terminal stations.

Although 80 articulated trolleybuses were purchased from Neoplan and delivered around 2008–09,Trolleybus Magazine No. 306 (November–December 2012), p. 148. the plans to operate the Transbarca system with those vehicles were dropped in 2013.Trolleybus Magazine No. 311 (September–October 2013), p. 138. In addition to reasons of cost, an inadequate supply of electricity with which to power the system was cited in the announcement of the decision.{{cite news|last=Pérez Terán|first=Daniel|title=Ministro El Troudi: Transbarca debe estar terminado el 14-S|trans-title=Minister El Troudi: Transbarca must be completed on 14-S (14 September)|newspaper=El Impulso|date=5 July 2013|language=es|url=http://elimpulso.com/articulo/ministro-el-troudi-transbarca-debe-estar-terminado-el-14-s-fotos|access-date=9 August 2015}}

• Buses are the main means of mass transportation. The system runs a variety of bus types, operated by several companies on normal streets and avenues:
• bus; large buses.
• buseta; medium-sized buses.
• microbus or colectivo; vans or minivans.
• rapiditos; old cars with capacity for 5 or more people.

The city has an airport called Jacinto Lara International Airport.

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The city is home to several notable baseball and football teams. Several other sports also have Barquisimeto as their home.

• Cardenales de Lara ({{langx|en|Lara Cardinals}}) (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
• Guaros de Lara (Venezuelan Professional Basketball League)
• Lara FC (Venezuelan Professional Soccer League)

• Junior Alvarado (born 1986) - Thoroughbred racing jockey
• Rafael Cadenas (born 1930) - poet and essayist, winner of the Cervantes prize in 2022
• Gregorio Camacho (1933–2002) - painter
• Pedro Carmona (born 1941) - economist who served briefly as acting president of Venezuela in 2002
• Carlos Carrasco (born 1987) - Major League Baseball pitcher
• Gabriel Coronel (born 1987) - actor and singer
• Gustavo Dudamel (born 1981) - conductor and violinist
• Andrés Giménez (born 1998) - Major League Baseball player for the Toronto Blue Jays
• Carlos Mendoza (born 1979) - Major League Baseball coach and current manager of the New York Mets
• Amleto Monacelli (born 1961) - professional ten-pin bowler
• Dori Parra de Orellana (1923–2007) – politician
• Manny Piña (born 1987) - Major League Baseball player
• Ana Rugeles (1914–2012) - composer and music educator

{{Portal|Venezuela}}

• Venezuela
• Lara state
• List of cities in Venezuela
• List of wine-producing regions
• Railway stations in Venezuela
• Gustavo Dudamel

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Barquisimeto}}

{{Wikisource1911Enc|Barquisimeto}}

• [http://www.laraturismo.com LaraTurismo, WebGuide of Tourism in Lara]
• [http://www.barquisimeto.com Barquisimeto.com]
• [http://www.clagir.com/mibarquisimeto MiBarquisimeto, Dedicado a Barquisimeto]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061112081942/http://printer.wunderground.com/global/stations/80410.html Check the weather in Barquisimeto now]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061018233448/http://www.iafe.gov.ve/seccion.asp?pid=6 Nuevo Sistema Ferroviario de Venezuela]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy6_ikmNagQ Video Footage of Barquisimeto and some of its places]
• [http://www.barquisimeto.com/ Barquisimeto, Bitacora de una Ciudad]
• [http://www.venezuelatuya.com/occidente/barquisimeto.htm Venezuela Tuya, Barquisimeto]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070108065306/http://www.discovervenezuela.com/barquisimeto.cfm Discover Venezuela, Barquisimeto]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027105115/http://geocities.com/Athens/Forum/4330/ Museo de Barquisimeto]

{{State capitals of Venezuela}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places established in 1552

Category:1552 establishments in the Spanish Empire

Category:Cities built on a grid