In the last two articles, we covered hiking Boquerón Volcano, as well as the Salvadoran beaches of El Zonte and El Tunco. In this post, we will head to "El Centro Histórico" where the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, and the new National Library are all located around a single plaza, with other interesting buildings in the surrounding area.
Not too many years ago, El Centro was off-limits to tourists, because it was under the control of the violent gangs. However, since president Bukele and his administration launched the war against the gangs the zone has become safe. Now local children are running around, and the tourists can explore the area without feeling paranoid.
Although they have shrunk in recent years, there are still several markets located in El Centro, where locals often come to buy fruits and vegetables at lower prices. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants to try out. For example, Franco's restaurant sells pupusas (3 for $1), and you can buy a cup of coffee made from the beans of the president's family farm.
The large Metropolitan Cathedral rests on one side of the plaza, and is open for those who wish to enter and worship their Lord and Savior. Below the Cathedral, in the basement, lays the tomb of a Óscar Romero, an archbishop who was assassinated in 1980 while he was giving mass.
The National Palace, where the Salvadoran president and other government officials used to work decades ago, offers guided tours through some of the building's more than 100 rooms. The materials used to construct the building came from countries like Belgium, Germany, and Italy. The price of entry $5 per person (and yes, they do accept Bitcoin).
The new National Library is a rather interesting piece of architecture that offers a mix of entertainment and education. Kids can play video games on big screens, read japanese manga (in Spanish), and play on Star Wars themed floors. China has been making a lot of donations around the world, and this library in San Salvador is just one of them.
The transformation of San Salvador's gang-ridden El Centro into a peaceful historical landmark has been nothing short of a miracle. I think the local people here are still processing the changes that have occurred, because they still seem surprised to see tourists casually meandering about this historically dangerous area of the city.
Until next time...
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