The constitutional capital of Bolivia, Sucre, may have long since lost its claim as the centre of power to La Paz, but this city has a sense of self and understated historical charm that seems only proper for a colonial outpost which birthed the first movement towards independence across South America.
Founded in 1538, Sucre became a refuge for traders who profited from the rich reserves of the Potosi silver mines, as it offered a centre of commerce and sophistication at a much more forgiving altitude.
It is no surprise that the riches of this mineral wealth is reflected in the ornate churches of Iglesia de San Miguel and the Cathedral which stands alongside the leafy palms of the central square of Plaza 25 de Mayo, where visitors and locals alike linger and congregate to celebrate daily life in Sucre.
In 1561 the city became the capital of Charcas audiencia (judicial and military territory of the Viceroyalty of Peru) and in 1609 the seat of an archdiocese. An early (1809) revolutionary centre, the city became the capital of Bolivia in 1839. The following year it was renamed in honour of the liberator Antonio José de Sucre. In 1898 an effort to move the capital to La Paz resulted in a civil war. The outcome was a compromise: Sucre remained the capital in name and law and the seat of the Supreme Court, but the executive and legislature moved to La Paz.