A paradise in Latin America. Quite the opposite to the rise in violence in several countries in the American continent, such as Brazil, Costa Rica is a reference in security. Especially its capital, San José, which has one of the best quality-of-life indices, thanks to the public security conducted by the San José Police Department and the Public Force of Costa Rica, organs that have received over US$150 million in investments for the implantation of improvements in the security sector, besides a large donation from the Chinese government, which provided 150 patrols for the city. All of this to reduce the criminality rate, to allow citizens and tourists to walk safely in the streets of San José.
Strangely enough, the country abolished the army in 1948, and presently counts only on the National Force. In Cost Rica, which is headquarters of the elaboration of the American Convention of Human Rights and of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, culture is another strong point of its urban population of a little over 340 thousand inhabitants. San José is the political, social, and economic center of Costa Rica. One of the oldest democracies in the world, 96% of its population is literate, which puts the country in seventh place on the list of the countries with the best human development indices in Latin America.
Its multicultural characteristics come from the influence of the Spanish colonization, as well as from French and Belgian influences, mainly in the 19th century, imported by the privileged classes that went on interchanges in European countries, besides the Guaymi Indian culture and the African wealth brought by the slaves. All of these influences can be seen in the local architecture: from the cathedral to the façades of the houses, the theaters and the famous museums in the city center. Outstanding among them is the National Theater, symbol of San José. Built in 1890, of stone, granite and marble, it holds works by renowned artists, and present s ballets, operas and concerts performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, as well as plays with the country’s major actors.
The Cultural Plaza is another great public space. A space for artistic and literary activities, the plaza has in its surroundings a library and an auditorium, besides the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and the Numismatic Museum, with a collection of coins from the Central Bank. Speaking of museums, do not miss the Jade Museum, with the largest collection of Pre-Columbian stones in the Americas, and the Costa Rica National Museum. Among other unmissable tours in San José, we find the Teatro Variedades and the Melico Salazar Popular Theater, as well as Democracy Plaza, the Legislative Assembly, the Our Lady of Sion Building, the Blue Castle, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Statue of Pope John Paul II.
