Margarita's history unveils with fortresses and old cathedrals where the Spanish invaders left their influence all over the island´s architecture. Discovered in 1498, the "conquistadores" found a island full of wealth and good fruitful soil where they settled down to live. The discoverers baptized the island "La Margarita",which means pearl, the island was full of them and it was more than what they had expected to find in this part of the world. The Guaiqueri Indians received the conquering Spaniards with open arms unaware that they later would become slaves of their own wealth. However, the feelings of hospitality remained throughout the times, making Margarita a warm and open house for all visitors, a place to find the most friendly people and satisfy the hunger for spectacular nature sights. During colonial times, the governing systems were founded and administrated in the capital city, La Asunción. Margarita didn’t escape the pirates whom in the XVI and XVII centuries whipped through the whole region in the Caribbean.

Today the happy children of Margarita are telling the tourists how the island was victim of the ferocious invasion of Lope de Aguirre. Margarita was an easy target in the Caribbean,so the natives had to defend their shores with fortresses for their brave men and women to confront the invaders. In Margarita you will find the walls of the Fortín de la Galera in Juan Griego; the castle Santa Rosa in La Asunción and the castle San Carlos Borromeo in Pampatar. They all speak for themselves better about our history. Finally freedom came in May 04, 1811 becoming the first free province of the Spanish domain.

Today Margarita emerges as a great tourist and commercial center in the competitive Caribbean area, thanks to its natural potential, the growth of their services and the hotel´s infrastructure. We have more than 9000 rooms, with proyeccion of an additional growth at the end of the year to some 1000 rooms,more are planned to be ready, this give the possibility for the tourist to choose between a 5 star hotel or a tropical inn. In its modern history, Margarita has been created as a duty free state in 1970 and a free port in 1975, excluding people in import of taxation payments and custom duty's. Visitors and locals now have the opportunity of buy all kind of imported goods with very attractive prices which makes an additional advantage to the natural wealth of the island.

MARGARITA AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.

500 years of history has made this island a land full of traditions from our ancestors as they breathed the events from the past surrounded by lots of natural beauty

CHURCHES

EL VALLE DEL ESPIRITU SANTO

The Basílica of Our Lady of the Valley is the Matron Saint of all eastern Venezuela as well as the Navy. It rises at the heart of the town of El Valle. Its festivities are celebrated on the first part of September and pilgrims come to worship her from all over the the country.

JUAN GRIEGO
Priest Nicolas de Igualada started the building of this temple in 1.846. It is dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist.

LA ASUNCION
One of the most important religious buildings on the Island is the Cathedral of Our Lady of La Asunción, built in 1.571. The Virgin of La Asunción is worshiped there. The Cathedral has been declared a historical city monument.

LOS ROBLES
Built in 1.738, this church honors the Virgin of El Pilar, whose golden image was, according to the legend, donated by the Spanish Queen Joan "THE FOOL".

PAMPATAR
The Church of the Christ of the Good Journey, Patron Saint of Pampatar, owes its name to an image of the fishermen's Miraculous one, whose story goes back to 1.748. Every year, on early May, the fiesta of the Christ takes place, the moment for the worshipers to bring gifts in thanks for received favor.

SANTA ANA
Religious images from the colonial times are kept inside this church. Its construction started in 1749, under the command of Governor Don Fosé Longart y Cobián. It had the honor of serving as the scenario in 1.816, for the recognition of Simón Bolívar "EL Libertador" Supreme Commander of Venezuela, giving birth to the Third Republic.

PORLAMAR
Although it was started to be built in 1.853, the contruction did not finish until April of 1.955 when Crisanto Mata Cova, Bishop of Cumaná, blessed the altar, the dome and presbiterium. In it is revered Saint Nicholas of Bari, Patron Saint of Porlamar. Because of it's size, is the most imposing church on the Island.

PARAGUACHI
This beautiful church in honor of Saint Joseph's is located at the major square of Paraguachí.

CASTLES AND FORTS

CASTILLO DE SANTA ROSA
Located in the capital city, La Asunción, it strategically dominates the Santa Lucia Valley. Its construction started in 1.677 and lasted until 1.683, under the comand of the field master Don Juan Fermin. It was declared a National Monument on 1.965.

FORTIN DE LA GALERA
Rising al the bayshore of the same name, it was buil in 1.811 by the Regional Council of Margarita and named "La Libertad".

FORTIN ESPAÑA
It is located on a hill in the outskirts of the town of Santa Ana del Norte, meaning to protec the road between Juan Griego and La Asunción.

CASTILLO DE SAN CARLOS DE BORROMEO
Protecting the Bay of Pampatar, this fort is the most important in the Island. The construction was led by Captain Carlos Navarro between 1.664 and 1.684.

FORTIN SANTIAGO DE LA CARANTA
At the opposite end of Pampatar Bay are the ruins of an outpost built between 1.586 and 1.596, later destroyed during an attack of Dutch pirates in 1.626.