San José

San José

The capital and largest city of Costa Rica, San José is the capital of the province of the same name. The city was named after Joseph of Nazareth. It is located in the wide, fertile Valle Central, at an altitude of 1160 meters above sea level, and was known as Villa Nueva when it was settled in 1736. San José was slowly developing as a tobacco center during the Spanish colonial era. The country's capital was moved here from the nearby city of Cartagó in 1823. During the 1840s, the town became an important center for coffee production, which remained Costa Rica's main source of income throughout the 19th century. San José, the political, social and economic center of Costa Rica, has grown rapidly in both population and area during the 20th century. The city is home to the University of Costa Rica, which is the oldest and most diverse of San José's four public universities. The stability and democratic reputation of Costa Rica attract a significant number of foreign students to these universities and to the many private universities located throughout San José. The city's historic buildings feature a 19th century cathedral and the National Theatre, inspired by the Paris Opéra. San José's downtown area is home to a unique collection of plazas commemorating the progressive and democratic traditions of the country, namely Democracy, Culture and Social Guarantees plazas. Among the city's attractions are a number of Pre-Columbian gold art collections and bi-national cultural centers. The National Museum, famous for its archaeological and historical exhibitions.