Nueva Cadiz: a pearl among the abandoned cities of Latin America

South America is known among history buffs for its many lost and abandoned cities. Today they are one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the world. The most important historical site in Venezuela is the ruined city of Nueva Cadiz, one of the first Spanish urban centers in the Americas as a whole.
The settlement was founded on the island of Cubagua, the smallest of the three islands of the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta, which lie off the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. Although the island of Kubagua is low, arid and has no fresh water, the coast is rich in pearls. This was noticed during his third trip by Christopher Columbus in 1498. Two years later, the conquistadors founded a settlement there.

The Spaniards lived on the islands, as well as local tribes engaged in fishing. Under the leadership of Cristobal Guerra, this temporary but prosperous camp became known as Villa Santiago. Thanks to the pearl industry, the economy has grown.

In 1521, the royal government provided the city with special conditions for development. He was the first Spanish founded in Venezuela. The city was called "New Cadiz" and was inhabited by the inhabitants of the Canary Islands. It had a population of 1,500 people.

Many indigenous people who worked as divers and canoeists lived in the settlement, although not by their own will. They were almost enslaved, many were forcibly brought from other parts of the Caribbean. The city has become synonymous with the brutality of the Spanish Empire.

The prosperity of the city turned out to be fleeting, as natural resources were depleted and pearls became increasingly difficult to collect. In addition, the cost of maintaining the population was prohibitive, since all food and water had to be delivered from the mainland. In addition, new settlements have been found on nearby islands.

In 1541, an earthquake and tsunami devastated the island, it was largely abandoned, only a few dozen people remained in Nueva Cadiz after the disaster. A few years later, a group of French Huguenots, fleeing persecution, attacked the city, mistakenly believing that it was still an important pearl center. Soon after, the settlement was completely abandoned.

On a plot of 13 hectares you can see many ruins. The street layout is still visible, taking into account the fact that houses should protect residents from east and north winds. The low walls of the main church of the Apostle Santiago and the monastery are distinguishable.

Undoubtedly, the most impressive ruins of the Nueva Cadiz are the remains of the town hall in which the prison was once located. Many of the walls are still standing and have interesting inscriptions and graffiti.

Kubagua Island is quite remote, it can only be reached by private boat, since there is no public transport. The waters around Nueva Cadiz are popular with scuba divers, and this area is of great environmental importance.

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