San Jose Guided City Tour: Architecture, Culture, Food and History

Since 1897, this elegant theater has been a source of pride.

The National Theater of Costa Rica (TNCR) is a public institution created by Executive Decree No. XXXIII, May 28, 1890, which establishes “That the construction of a National Theater in this city [San José] is a demanded necessity for the civilization and culture of the country… ”. Its construction required the joint work of Costa Ricans and Europeans, who contributed their knowledge and made possible the creation of this temple of art, in accordance with the desire of the turn of the century republican architecture.

Our professional local tour guide will give you an explanation about the history and what this theatre represents for a better understanding of the evolution of Costa Rica.

Initially it was called Plaza La Laguna, since it was built on a small lake called Vilanueva, where many Costa Ricans were looking for mud to build the first adobe houses in the 19th century. For health reasons the lagoon was drained and the square was built, which began as a meeting point in the celebration of the New Year.

Officially, the park was inaugurated in 1887, however the Executive of that time decided to name it Francisco Morazán, in homage to a hero of Central American history, without ever knowing the reason for this decision. Years later, a large octagonal kiosk with an art nouveau style was created to perform civic events, which more recently was transformed into the Temple of Music.

Our professional local tour guide will give you an explanation about the history and what this park represents for a better understanding of the evolution of Costa Rica.

Music is a big part of Costa Rican culture. Most times, you could see them festively dancing and singing, with musical horns roaring in the background. These fun loving Latin Americans enjoy a fusion of American, Latin and British contemporary rock and a timeless adoration and influence of 60’s and 70’s music.

Enjoying music collectively is another characteristic Costa Ricans possess. They believe as many others do that music is best experienced when shared.

To have a venue to house bands, musicians and even orchestras like the Templo de la Musica continues to bring life to the surroundings of Costa Rica. That’s why this temple is truly a big draw for tourists and locals alike.

Our professional local tour guide will give you an explanation about the history and what this temple represents for a better understanding of the evolution of Costa Rica.

The space occupied by Parque España emerged in 1862 as a plaza linked to the service of the National Liquor Factory (currently, CENAC). This factory had been built in 1856 by President Juan Rafael Mora Porras with the purpose of increasing the public purse and controlling the manufacture of contraband alcohol. This square became the place where the cattlemen who brought the bundles of candy with which the cane liquor was made rested. Over time, circuses were also installed on the site, public festivals were organized for the end of the year, and bullfights were held. Later, soccer matches were also played and finally, it became the place where the students of the Metallic School carried out their physical activities.

Our professional local tour guide will give you an explanation about the history and what this temple represents for a better understanding of the evolution of Costa Rica.

he “Casa Amarilla” (Yellow House) must be one of your must-see places in San José. This building takes its name from the other color of its facade. It is the current headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country. Located in the district of El Carmen, at the intersection between 7th Avenue and 11th Street, it is a neocolonial architecture building with neo-baroque decorations, built-in 1920 by the American architect Henry D. Whitfield, with the purpose of it being the headquarters the Central American Court of Justice. Considered a fundamental vestige of Costa Rican urban heritage, it was declared a National Monument on September 17, 1976, and it is a historical-architectural heritage.

Our professional local tour guide will give you an explanation about the history and what this temple represents for a better understanding of the evolution of Costa Rica.

Emblematic park. It is one of the most important open spaces in the capital that emerged in the 1870s as the Plaza de la Estación, a name given because of its proximity to the terminal of the Ferrocarril al Atlántico.

This park was inaugurated in 1895 by the National Monument; sculptural ensemble that influenced the change of name to the park. It has been the scene of important national celebrations throughout this century.

It is characterized by being one of the largest parks in space. So much so that it has its own narrow streets where you can walk and why not sit on one of its benches to have a good time.

Our professional local tour guide will give you an explanation about the history and what this temple represents for a better understanding of the evolution of Costa Rica.

The National Monument is a fundamental symbol of the most heroic deed of the Costa Rican people, the so-called National Campaign or Central American War against the Filibusteros, which took place between 1856 and 1857.

Photographs: Press and Communication Office, MCJ.
Precisely, the National Park, where the Monument is located in its privileged central area, has the declaration of Historical-Architectural Heritage, according to which, this is one of the most relevant open spaces in the capital.

The park's existence dates back to the 1870s, when it was known as the Plaza de la Estación, a name given because of its proximity to the terminal of the Railroad to the Atlantic. However, the inauguration of the National Monument in 1895, led to the change of name. Since that time, the National Park has been the scene of important national celebrations.

The Estación del Ferrocarril al Atlántico is a historic building and railway terminal located in San José, Costa Rica, declared Architectural Heritage of Costa Rica by decree No. 11664-C of July 29, 1980.

Built in 1908, and in operation until 1996, it was the main terminal from which the railroad that connects San José, capital of Costa Rica, with the city of Limón, the main port of the Costa Rican Caribbean, started and arrived.

Our professional local tour guide will give you an explanation about the history and what this temple represents for a better understanding of the evolution of Costa Rica.

The Legislative Assembly is an instance foreseen in the Provincial Constitution in which the members of the Legislature participate: Senators and Deputies. It is presided over by the Vice Governor of the Province, who only has a vote in the event of a tie.

The Assembly meets only in the cases and for the following purposes:

Receive the oath of the Governor and Vice Governor of the Province.
Resolve in the event of a tie in their election.
Consider the resignations of said officials.
Decide on their permanent supervening physical or mental disability.
Listen to the annual report of the Governor on the state of public affairs, on the occasion of the opening of the Period of Ordinary Sessions of the Chambers.
Issued on the requests of agreement of the Executive Power for the appointment of magistrates or officials.

The birth of the National Museum, at the end of the 19th century, was framed within the liberal project of "order and progress" that implied the reorganization of the national culture through reforms in the educational field and the creation of institutions for cultural and scientific purposes. , like the National Museum.

This is how on May 4, 1887, under the presidency of Bernardo Soto, the National Museum was created with the purpose of providing the country with a public establishment to deposit, classify and study natural and artistic products.

Our professional local tour guide will give you an explanation about the history and what this temple represents for a better understanding of the evolution of Costa Rica.

The Plaza de la Democracia, officially the Plaza de la Democracia y de la Abolición del Ejército, is a public space located in San José, Costa Rica. It serves as a prelude to the National Museum of Costa Rica, located in the old Bellavista Barracks, site where the abolition of the Costa Rican army was carried out on December 1, 1948, an important milestone in Costa Rican history and identity.

The Plaza de la Democracia is a recent urban complex that was applauded at the time because it came to revalue the unknown access to the old Bellavista barracks, in addition to emulating the good intentions of the Plaza de la Cultura when it uncovered the north façade of the National theater. This urban complex was necessary for the city of San José, which lacked open spaces.

Our professional local tour guide will give you an explanation about the history and what this temple represents for a better understanding of the evolution of Costa Rica.

One of the museums that houses the most history of Costa Rica is the Museo del Oro in San José, where you will find exhibits on the social and cultural development of pre-Columbian indigenous tribes.

Our professional local tour guide will give you an explanation about the history and what this temple represents for a better understanding of the evolution of Costa Rica.

In the third part of the 20th century, the city of San José had such an important architectural and demographic growth that the space for its inhabitants was occupied by buildings, buses and automobiles. As a result, various characters from the cultural sphere began to show the need to give the city public spaces that would improve the quality of life of visitors to the capital.

Within this context, the Plaza de la Cultura project was born in 1973, after the Theater building was declared a National Monument and the surrounding area declared of public interest. In 1975, the Central Bank of Costa Rica took over the financing and execution of the project in order to have a space to display its collections of pre-Columbian gold, numismatics and art. The architects Jorge Bertheau, Jorge Borbón and Edgar Vargas were the chosen designers.

The Central Market of San José is a beautiful century-old building. Part of the building was erected at the end of the 19th century and another stage was built during the 1940s at the end of the last century. It is located on avenues 0 and 1 and streets 6 and 8, established in 1880 and declared as national heritage in 1995.

In its narrow corridors you find everything from clothing to fresh fish and meat, passing through the best webbed tortillas.

Given the difficult economic situation that our country experienced as a result of the First World War, there is a reduction in income for the Government and a decline in the coffee sector. The National Banking System was made up of private banks, which denied the Government a loan that was necessary to meet their fiscal needs.
Within this context, in the government of Alfredo Gonzalez Flores (1914-1917), the first state bank was created, called Banco Internacional, with two main purposes, which were to make the State independent from the financial control of private banks and guide a part of the public credit towards domestic market agriculture. At that time, the current Costa Rican monetary system was governed by the use of gold, and the State did not have this metal to be able to support the issues, so “… .it was then agreed to suspend the convertibility of the banknotes and extend this measure to all existing banking institutions ”(Central Bank of Costa Rica, 1990).