Potosí Silver: The Craft of the World's Silver Capital
The silversmithing tradition of Potosí — rooted in the colonial era when the city processed the world's greatest silver supply — continues in the filigree workshops of the city centre; the delicate silver thread work is one of Bolivia's finest craft traditions
Potosí: The Mountain That Ate Men
Potosí — at 4,090m, the world's highest city of its size — was the engine of the Spanish Empire; the Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) above the city produced one-third of all silver mined in the Spanish Empire between 1545 and 1800; an estimated 8 million people died mining it
Potosí Region: Altiplano Culture and the Bowler Hat
The Potosí region is the heartland of the Bolivian altiplano culture — the cholita identity (with its distinctive bowler hat, full skirt, and shawl) is the visible expression of a cultural tradition that has transformed colonial-era clothing into a symbol of indigenous pride
Potosí: The World's Richest Colonial City
The UNESCO World Heritage historic city of Potosí preserves the finest concentration of colonial baroque architecture in the Americas — the churches, convents, and mansions built with the Cerro Rico's silver wealth are a monument to colonial excess and indigenous suffering
Inside Cerro Rico: The Active Mine Experience
The guided tour inside Potosí's active Cerro Rico mines is one of the most confronting and memorable travel experiences in South America — entering the working mines, meeting the miners, and experiencing the darkness and danger of the mountain that shaped the modern world
Potosí Department: Lagoons, Geysers, and the Salt Flat
The Potosí department contains some of Bolivia's most dramatic landscapes — the Reserva Eduardo Avaroa with its coloured lagoons, flamingos, and active geysers, and the access to the Salar de Uyuni (the world's largest salt flat)
Potosí by Night: The Colonial City's Atmosphere
Potosí's colonial centre has a haunted, atmospheric quality — the empty streets, the massive colonial church facades, and the looming Cerro Rico above make the UNESCO World Heritage city one of South America's most evocative historic environments
Potosí at 4,090m: Life at the Roof of the World
Potosí is one of the world's highest cities — at 4,090m, the air contains 40% less oxygen than at sea level; the altitude shapes everything in the city — from the cooking time of food to the breathing of its inhabitants