Southern Bolivia: Potosí and surrounds

Potosí was founded by Juan de Villarroel as Villa Imperial de Carlos V, in honor of then Spanish king Carlos V after silver was discovered at Cerro Rico ("Rich Hill") in 1544. In 1672, a mint was established to coin silver and water reservoirs were built to fulfill the growing population's needs. The city had at one stage almost 90 churches and a population of nearly 200,000. Many churches were looted, however, during the independence conflicts in the early 19th-century. But there are still many examples of colonial architecture left. Potosí has also typical Bolivian music and dance on offer with the renowned folklore group Mosoj Ñan.

Twenty-five km downhill from Potosí is Tarapaya with its thermal baths; it's surrounded by stunning scenery, notably Laguna Ojo del Inca ("The eye of the Inca"), a small lake set in a stark landscape.

	Street in Potosí	Linares Street, Potosí	The upper town	Children of Potosí
	Hoyas street, Potosí	Narrow street in Potosí	Potocchi dancer	Peña Performance
	Outskirts of Potosí	View near Tarapaya	Laguna Ojo del Inca	Ojo del Inca, Tarapaya

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