Potosí is a historic city in the Potosí Department of Bolivia, and it is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its story is bound up with the Cerro Rico, the silver mountain that rises above the town. Potosí was once known as the Villa Imperial de Potosí, a name that still appears alongside its modern one.
The city sits at 4,090 metres, which makes it one of the highest cities in the world. Visitors often notice the altitude soon after arriving, so it is worth taking the first day at an easy pace.
What a visit offers
- The colonial centre. The old town is built around the mountain, and walking its streets gives a clear sense of how the city developed during the Spanish colonial period.
- The Cerro Rico. The mountain is the reason the city exists. Its presence shapes the skyline and the surrounding landscape, and it is visible from much of the town.
- The mining story. Because the city grew around silver mining, a visit tends to be as much about the history of work and extraction as about architecture.
Planning your trip
Potosí suits travellers who enjoy history and who are comfortable with high altitude. Give yourself time to wander rather than rushing between sights, and allow for the thin air, especially in the first hours. The city works well as a stop of a day or more, with the surrounding streets providing plenty to explore on foot.