El TocuyoThe Mother City of Venezuela
Founded on December 7, 1545 by Juan de Carvajal, capital of Morán Municipality and second historical capital of Venezuela. Birthplace of the Tamunangue, of Tocuyo bread, and of much of Venezuela's colonial history.
Where is El Tocuyo?
El Tocuyo is located in Lara state, Venezuela, in the country's center-west region. It is the capital of Morán Municipality and lies about 70 km southeast of Barquisimeto (the state capital), roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by car along the national highway via Quíbor. El Tocuyo sits in the fertile valley of the Tocuyo River, at 620 meters above sea level.
Geographic coordinates: 9°47′N 69°48′W.
- Country: Venezuela 🇻🇪
- State: Lara
- Municipality: Morán (it is its capital)
- Population (municipality): ~190,000
- Altitude: 620 m (2,034 ft)
- Founded: December 7, 1545
- Nickname: Mother City of Venezuela
Why is El Tocuyo the Mother City of Venezuela?
Between 1546 and 1548, El Tocuyo was the second capital of the Province of Venezuela, after Coro. From its streets set out the expeditions that founded Barquisimeto (1552), Trujillo (1557), Carora (1569), Acarigua, Barinas, Guanare and many other cities of the country.
For that reason historians call it the «Mother City»: it was the starting point of the settlement of central and western Venezuela. Here operated the first regular town council of the inland, the first school and the first convent of the region.
Its church, its Tamunangue, its bread and its sweets preserve the colonial legacy that made it one of the oldest and most significant cities in Venezuela.
«El Tocuyo is the most Venezuelan town that Venezuela has.»
- ✓ 2nd capital of Venezuela (1546–1548)
- ✓ Birthplace of the Tamunangue (Cultural Heritage)
- ✓ Starting point of western settlement
- ✓ Rebuilt after the 1950 earthquake
Explore El Tocuyo
Everything you need to know about the Mother City and Morán Municipality
History
Founded in 1545 by Juan de Carvajal, El Tocuyo was the second capital of the Province of Venezuela and the starting point for the founding of many Venezuelan cities.
See moreNotable people
Lisandro Alvarado, Egidio Montesinos, José Trinidad Morán, Pío Tamayo, Catalina de Miranda and all the great sons and daughters of the Mother City.
See moreTourism
Inmaculada Concepción Cathedral, Colonial Museum, Plaza Bolívar, Tocuyo River, Dinira National Park and many more must-visit sites.
See moreFestivities & Tamunangue
Tamunangue (June 13), May Cross vigils, Holy Week, Burning of Judas, Burriquita, Immaculate Conception and the Paradura del Niño.
See moreTocuyo recipes
Tocuyo acemita, rooster olleta, Lara mute, cut-milk dessert, caramelized papaya, catalinas and corn carato — step by step.
See moreMorán Municipality
Its 9 parishes: El Tocuyo, Anzoátegui, Bolívar, Guárico, Hilario Luna y Luna, Humocaro Alto, Humocaro Bajo, La Candelaria and Morán.
See moreParishes
Explore the 9 parishes of Morán Municipality: history, geography, customs and attractions of each.
See moreFrequently asked questions about El Tocuyo
Where is El Tocuyo, Venezuela?
El Tocuyo is the capital of Morán Municipality in Lara state, Venezuela. It lies about 70 km southeast of Barquisimeto (the state capital), in a fertile valley watered by the Tocuyo River, at 620 meters above sea level. Its coordinates are roughly 9°47'N 69°48'W.
Why is El Tocuyo called the Mother City of Venezuela?
Because between 1546 and 1620 it served as the effective capital of the Province of Venezuela, and from it set out the expeditions that founded Barquisimeto (1552), Trujillo (1557), Carora (1569), Borburata (1549), Valencia (1555), San Cristóbal (1561) and — with logistical support — Caracas (1567). For that reason historians call it the Mother City.
When was El Tocuyo founded?
El Tocuyo was founded on December 7, 1545 by the Spanish conquistador Juan de Carvajal, under the name «Nuestra Señora de la Pura y Limpia Concepción del Tocuyo». It is one of the oldest cities in Venezuela.
How do I get to El Tocuyo from Barquisimeto?
From Barquisimeto the trip is about 70 km and 1 hour 15 minutes by car along the national highway via Quíbor. Public transport (buses and shared taxis) runs from the Barquisimeto Passenger Terminal.
What is the Tamunangue?
The Tamunangue, also called «Sones de Negro», is the most representative ritual dance of El Tocuyo. It is offered as a promise paid to Saint Anthony of Padua, especially on June 13. It includes an opening salve and 8 sones (Batalla, Bella, Juruminga, Yiyivamos, Perrendenga, Poco a Poco, Galerón, Seis Corrido). It was declared a National Cultural Heritage in 2014.
What is Tocuyo bread?
Tocuyo bread — emblematically the Tocuyo acemita — is a brown bread seasoned with panela (raw cane sugar), anise, cinnamon and nutmeg, shaped as a ring or U. It is the iconic baked good of Lara state and much of Venezuela. Beyond bread, Tocuyo cuisine includes rooster olleta, mute, cut-milk dessert, caramelized papaya and catalinas.
What are the parishes of Morán Municipality?
Morán Municipality has 9 parishes: El Tocuyo (capital), Anzoátegui, Bolívar, Guárico, Hilario Luna y Luna, Humocaro Alto, Humocaro Bajo, La Candelaria and Morán. The Humocaros and Guárico are Andean areas known for their high-altitude coffee.
What happened with the El Tocuyo earthquake of 1950?
On August 3, 1950 at 5:50 PM, a magnitude 6.6 Mw earthquake with epicenter 18 km from Carache destroyed 93% of the buildings in El Tocuyo. The reconstruction under the Pérez Jiménez government turned the colonial center into a modern concrete city. The new Inmaculada Concepción Church was inaugurated in 1959.
Keep exploring the Mother City
Read articles, recipes, colonial history and everything that makes El Tocuyo one of the most singular cities of Venezuela.
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