Puerto Cabello
Encyclopedia
Puerto Cabello (ˈpweɾto kaˈβeʝo) is a city
on the north coast of Venezuela
. It is located in Carabobo State about 75 km west of Caracas
. As of 2001, the city has a population of around 154,000 people. The city is the home to the largest port in the country and is thus a vital cog in the country's vast oil industry. Its name translates to 'Port Hair' in English.
smugglers during the 17th century. Most of the contraband trade consisted of dealing in cacao with neighboring island Curaçao, colonized by the Dutch.
Also Puerto Cabello was at that time under Dutch control.
It was not until 1730 that the Spanish took over the port, after the Real Compañía Guipuzcoana had moved in. This company built warehouses, wharves and an array of forts to protect the harbor.
During the War of Jenkin's Ear,the comodore Charles Knowles
at command of the 70-gun HMS Suffolk
in 1743 received orders to carry out attacks on the spanish settlements at Puerto Cabello and La Guaira.The spanish were well informed of the plans, and were able to recruit extra defenders, and were supplied with gunpowder by the Dutch. Consequently an attack on La Guaira on 18 February 1743 was beaten off by the defenders. Knowles withdrew his force and refitted at Curacao before attempting an assault on Puerto Cabello on 15 April, and again on 24 April, but both assaults were beaten back. Knowles called off the expedition and returned to Jamaica.
By the 1770s Puerto Cabello came to be the most fortified town on the Venezuela’s coast.The San Felipe castle and the Solano fortress remain from the period. It was the last Spanish royalist stronghold during Venezuela’s war for independence, it was captured by José Antonio Páez
in 1823.
In 1962, Puerto Cabello was the site of an uprising by pro-Fidel Castro
naval officers, marines, and members of the FALN
. Although loyalist naval forces were able to quickly take back the base and arrest the rebels, they were unable to prevent the marines from occupying the city and arming pro-Castro forces. Despite ambushes and bloody house-to-house fighting, loyal National Guard and mechanized regular forces were able to retake Puerto Cabello.
, who is in charge of representing the municipality's administration. The legislative branch is represented by the Municipal Council, composed of seven councillors, charged with the deliberation of new decrees and local laws. The comptroller tasks are managed by the municipal comptroller
's office, which oversees accountancy
. Finally, planning is represented by the Local Public Planning Council, which manages development projects for the municipality
.
The streets of the Colonial ages preserve their rustic and picturesque appearance, with their beautiful households and mansions and the cobblestone paving on the streets, all these features make the city a nice and growing tourist destination.
In the jetty, one can see the Caribbean Sea, as well as the massive Fortín de San Felipe, also known as the Castillo del Libertador, this powerful fort worked as a refuge for citizens during the Colonial times, because pirates invaded the city constantly.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
on the north coast of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. It is located in Carabobo State about 75 km west of Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
. As of 2001, the city has a population of around 154,000 people. The city is the home to the largest port in the country and is thus a vital cog in the country's vast oil industry. Its name translates to 'Port Hair' in English.
History
Due to Puerto Cabello's location it was attacked by buccaneers and was a popular market for DutchDutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
smugglers during the 17th century. Most of the contraband trade consisted of dealing in cacao with neighboring island Curaçao, colonized by the Dutch.
Also Puerto Cabello was at that time under Dutch control.
It was not until 1730 that the Spanish took over the port, after the Real Compañía Guipuzcoana had moved in. This company built warehouses, wharves and an array of forts to protect the harbor.
During the War of Jenkin's Ear,the comodore Charles Knowles
Charles Knowles
Sir Charles Knowles, 1st Baronet was an officer of the Royal Navy, who saw service during the War of Jenkins' Ear, the wider War of the Austrian Succession, and the Seven Years War. He also briefly served with the Imperial Russian Navy during the Russo-Turkish War...
at command of the 70-gun HMS Suffolk
HMS Suffolk
Six ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Suffolk, after the county of Suffolk: was a 70-gun third rate launched in 1680, rebuilt in 1699, 1718 and 1739, and broken up in 1765. was a 30-gun storeship purchased in 1694 and sold in 1713. was a 74-gun third rate launched in 1765 and sold in...
in 1743 received orders to carry out attacks on the spanish settlements at Puerto Cabello and La Guaira.The spanish were well informed of the plans, and were able to recruit extra defenders, and were supplied with gunpowder by the Dutch. Consequently an attack on La Guaira on 18 February 1743 was beaten off by the defenders. Knowles withdrew his force and refitted at Curacao before attempting an assault on Puerto Cabello on 15 April, and again on 24 April, but both assaults were beaten back. Knowles called off the expedition and returned to Jamaica.
By the 1770s Puerto Cabello came to be the most fortified town on the Venezuela’s coast.The San Felipe castle and the Solano fortress remain from the period. It was the last Spanish royalist stronghold during Venezuela’s war for independence, it was captured by José Antonio Páez
José Antonio Páez
José Antonio Páez Herrera was General in Chief of the army fighting Spain during the Venezuelan Wars of Independence, in addition to becoming the President of Venezuela once it was independent of the Gran Colombia...
in 1823.
In 1962, Puerto Cabello was the site of an uprising by pro-Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
naval officers, marines, and members of the FALN
Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (Venezuela)
The Armed Forces of National Liberation was a Venezuelan guerrilla group formed to foment revolution against the democratically elected government of Rómulo Betancourt.-Background:...
. Although loyalist naval forces were able to quickly take back the base and arrest the rebels, they were unable to prevent the marines from occupying the city and arming pro-Castro forces. Despite ambushes and bloody house-to-house fighting, loyal National Guard and mechanized regular forces were able to retake Puerto Cabello.
Law and government
Puerto Cabello has one municipality: Puerto Cabello Municipality, Venezuelan law specifies that municipal governments have four main functions: executive, legislative, comptroller, and planning. The executive function is managed by the mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, who is in charge of representing the municipality's administration. The legislative branch is represented by the Municipal Council, composed of seven councillors, charged with the deliberation of new decrees and local laws. The comptroller tasks are managed by the municipal comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
's office, which oversees accountancy
Accountancy
Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in money terms the economic resources under the control of management; the art lies in...
. Finally, planning is represented by the Local Public Planning Council, which manages development projects for the municipality
Tourism
Puerto Cabello has exhibited strong tourist potential and has been shown to have a local, growing tourist industry, this is mainly because of its position as the main trading area in the country, its communications, its rich historic heritage and its location in front of the Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
.
The streets of the Colonial ages preserve their rustic and picturesque appearance, with their beautiful households and mansions and the cobblestone paving on the streets, all these features make the city a nice and growing tourist destination.
In the jetty, one can see the Caribbean Sea, as well as the massive Fortín de San Felipe, also known as the Castillo del Libertador, this powerful fort worked as a refuge for citizens during the Colonial times, because pirates invaded the city constantly.
Attractions
- Protestants Graveyard.
- Solano Fortress or CastleSolano CastleSolano Castle is located in the San Esteban National Park, south of Puerto Cabello, in Carabobo, Venezuela. It is a military castle built in 1766 by order of governor of Venezuela, Don José Solano y Bote. It was constructed in the area referred to as Cresta de Vigía and was intended to protect the...
(part of the San Esteban National ParkSan Esteban National ParkThe San Esteban National Park is located in Carabobo, Venezuela.The park lies on the Northeastern part of Carabobo and it links with the Henri Pittier National Park of Aragua....
) - San Felipe Castle.
- Long Island.
- Puente de Los Españoles (San Esteban Pueblo).
Natives
- Carlos ZambranoCarlos ZambranoCarlos Alberto Zambrano is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. Zambrano, who stands 6' 5" and weighs 260 pounds, was signed by the Cubs as a free agent in 1997 and made his debut in 2001...
, professional baseball player for the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, was born here. - Pablo SandovalPablo SandovalPablo E. Sandoval , nicknamed Kung Fu Panda, is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. Sandoval is a 5'11", 237 pound switch hitter. He was born left handed, but did not want to have to play outfield all of his career. He therefore...
, professional baseball player for the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, was born here. - Fernando NieveFernando NieveFernando Alexis Nieve [knee-EH-veh] is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros and New York Mets...
, professional baseball player for the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, was born here. - Victor MorenoVíctor MorenoVíctor Hugo Moreno is a set-up relief pitcher who is currently in the Detroit Tigers organization. He bats and throws right-handed...
, professional baseball player, was born here.
Transport
Puerto Cabello is served by a station on the Instituto de Ferrocarriles del Estado network.See also
- VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
- Carabobo State
- List of cities in Venezuela
- Railway stations in VenezuelaRailway stations in VenezuelaRailway stations in Venezuela include:City with underground railway system:* Caracas * Los Teques Metro - opened in 2006.See* East-West Railway, Venezuela* Instituto Autónomo de Ferrocarriles del Estado- Maps :...