Maturin

Maturín is a Venezuelan city in the northeastern region, capital of the Monagas state and of the homonymous municipality. It is the ninth most populous city in the country with 647,459 inhabitants, surpassed in order by Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia, Barquisimeto, Maracay, Ciudad Guayana, Barcelona and San Cristóbal. It is located at 122 m s. no. m., next to the Guarapiche river, 416 km from Caracas in a straight line.

Maturín, founded on December 7, 1760 by the Capuchin friar Lucas de Zaragoza, has gained momentum in recent years as a result of oil activity in its vicinity. The city is the main political, administrative, financial, commercial and service center of the Monagas state.

History

Foundation

Maturín was founded on December 7, 1760 by the Capuchin friar Lucas de Zaragoza as a mission town for the indigenous Guaraunos. This date was confirmed as a "definitive foundation" by the National Academy of History of Venezuela. The town was named San Judas Tadeo de Maturín.

The Jesuit priest and historian Pablo Ojer found in the General Archive of the Indies the founding act of a Spanish city prior to San Judas Tadeo de Maturín. It is San Juan de la Tornera de Maturín which was founded on April 18, 1722 by the Spanish captain and governor of the Province of Cumaná Juan de la Tornera y Sota. But San Juan de la Tornera de Maturín would not have had sufficient material development to leave any vestige of its existence. The National Academy of History of Venezuela describes it as an "immaterial foundation".

Origin of the name Maturin

Maturín takes its name from an indigenous Chaima named Maturín. Maturín was cacique (chief) of a tribe located near the current site of the city. Maturín was apparently assassinated by a Spanish captain (supposedly with the surname Arriojas) during a battle between the troops of the Cumanés governor Carreño and members of the Maturín tribe in 1718. Since then, the place where the indigenous chief was killed began to be known as Maturín Site.

Some historians believe that the name of the cacique is not really of indigenous origin but French. They base their theory on the legend of an alleged French Catholic missionary who would have evangelized the indigenous people of the area at the end of the 17th century. According to this legend, the missionary (whose first or last name may have been Mathurin) baptized and named a young man Mathurin, who became Chief Maturin. There is also the possibility that the missionary gave this Indian the name Mathurin in honor of Saint Mathurin, a French saint of the 4th century. . Other historians deny such a theory. They believe that the name Maturín has indigenous roots and comes from a plant with the same name. In addition, there are place names that have a resemblance to the word Maturín.

War of Independence

José Tadeo Monagas

Maturín was the scene of five battles between 1813 and 1814 in which the city resisted the attempts of the royalists to take it. The most famous of all was the Battle of Alto de Los Godos (May 25, 1813). In that battle the Republicans, under the command of Manuel Piar, achieved a victory against the troops of the Spanish General Domingo Monteverde. Other republicans like José Francisco Bermúdez, José Tadeo Monagas, José Gregorio Monagas and José Félix Ribas fought during those years in Maturín.

In 1814, emigrants from the city of Caracas arrived in Maturín fleeing the army of José Tomás Boves. On December 11, 1814, the Republicans tried to defend the city in the Fifth Battle of Maturín, but they were defeated by the royalist army commanded by Francisco Tomás Morales. Many Republicans were assassinated by Morales' troops, among them Francisco Javier Ustáriz and Francisco José Monagas. Maturín was left in ruins. The survivors of the massacre rebuilt the then town of Maturín two years later.

Republican period (Since 1830)

Maturín grew slowly in the 19th century due to constant civil wars (which destroyed flourishing cattle ranching and killed local people) and diseases, such as yellow fever, transmitted by mosquitoes. In 1858 the Province of Maturín was created, separated from the Province of Cumaná, which included the current Monagas and Sucre States. Maturín was a small city whose natural limits were the Caño Orinoco to the south and the Guarapiche River to the north. With the arrival of President Antonio Guzmán Blanco, the Great Eastern State was created (in 1890 it would be renamed Bermúdez State) that included the current States of Sucre, Monagas and Anzoátegui.

The reference points of the city between the end of the XIX century and the first two thirds of the XX were the Plaza Acosta o Piar (west limit of the city), the Latin Quarter (located to the west of the city and home to wealthy families of the city at that time such as Los Núñez, Aristimuño, Beauperthuy, Coll, Simosa and others, not to mention the minor branches of said families), the Caño Orinoco (also known as Caño Maturín, which was a small stream that marked the southern limit of the city; said stream today serves as a dumping ground for urban waste as well as the Guarapiche River), Plaza Bolívar, Puerto Arturo (a fluvial station located in the Bajo Guarapiche sector where people entered and left the city through the River Guarapiche) and many others.

In 1909 Maturín became the capital of the recently created Monagas state whose first governor would be General Emilio Fernández. Previously, it was the capital of the province of Maturín, between 1856 and 1859, and later the capital of Maturín state, in 1901. The first paved avenue in the city of Maturín was Las Palmeras avenue, Antillean and American style houses were built in the neighborhood., in addition to the well-known Rialto cinema and the Mayorca hotel.

In the XX century, Maturín had a large population growth due to the discovery of oil fields in its vicinity. In addition, a health campaign put an end to the mosquitoes that transmit tropical diseases. In 1911, the first power plant was built. However, public lighting began to be installed in 1939, by Governor Alejandro Rescaniere, where it was established that the energy will work from 7 AM to 10 PM in Maturín.

Later, in 1942, the first Maturín Airport was built (there is evidence of a previous airport built in 1929 known as the Caripito Pan-American Airport and it was located near Cachipo and served Caripito, the most important town in the eastern part of the country at the time), said air terminal was located at the end of the current Avenida Bolívar in what is now the headquarters of the Land Transit Inspectorate (INTT) but later a new terminal was built in 1983 located on the outskirts)

Modern buildings and spacious avenues began to be built in the city since the administration of Governor Alirio Ugarte Pelayo in the fifties of the last century, as an example is Avenida Juncal (built in the sixties as an evolution of the old Calle Juncal), Avenida Bicentenario (built in the 1960s for the bicentennial of the city), Avenida Libertador (1970s), Hospital Manuel Núñez Tovar (current headquarters built in 1965) and Avenidas Bolívar (built in 1950 as an evolution of the old Calle Bolívar) and Luis del Valle García (1961).

In 1958, Maturín became the seat of the Diocese of Maturín and to commemorate the occasion a great cathedral was built that today is a symbol of the city, its name is Catedral Nuestra Señora del Carmen whose construction took 23 years between 1958 and 1981, is located on Avenida Bolívar.

Democratic stage since 1958

Between the 40s and 90s, Maturín evolved from a peaceful colonial city to a very modern city that characterizes it today. This is demonstrated in the evolution of many of the old main streets into avenues and the elimination of the classic and old houses colonial to be replaced by residential buildings and shops. The area known as Caño Maturín gave way to Avenida Orinoco (with this the narrow bridges that crossed the channel are replaced by wide paved bridges suitable for vehicular traffic) that connects two sections of Avenida Libertador and crosses part of the center. In 1983, Avenida Cruz Peraza was inaugurated, allowing people to pass around the city without having to go through the center. The Latin Quarter gradually disappeared and wealthy families migrated to Juanico to the south of the city and to Tipuro and San Miguel to the north.

In the 70s there were many cinemas and shops in the center of Maturín: very famous cinemas such as Atlas (located on Av. Bolívar, today it is the headquarters of the Genesis store), Maturín (located near the Los Bloques sector), Monterrey (located on Avenida Ribas), Rialto (located in Las Palmeras, opened in 1936 and closed in 1994 whose facilities are currently in alarming deterioration) and the famous Monagas Drive-in Cinema located on the outskirts of the city near the entrance to Viboral.

In the Bajo Guarapiche sector was the famous "Cabria" (Torre Lagoven) next to the Maturín Highway (also known as the Bajo Guarapiche Distributor) which in December was decorated as a Christmas tree and was an attraction of the city. Said tower was eliminated in 2005 to make way for the construction of the Elevado Bajo Guarapiche, the reason for the construction was the great vehicular congestion in the area, the same reason would lead to the construction of the South Node between Raúl Leoni, Libertador and Rómulo avenues Gallegos eleven years later.

In 1989 the first regional and municipal elections were held and the first female mayor was María Elena de Cañizales of the AD party elected for the period 1989 - 1992 followed by José Enrique López Tablero de Copei for the next three-year period 1992 - 1995; but many Maturinese consider that the rise of the city's development in modern times occurred with the two mayoral terms of Domingo Urbina Simosa (1950 - 2011) (1994 - 2000 and 2000 - 2004) of the AD party during which the city prospered quite a bit. and it was considered the cleanest city in Venezuela. His motto was "Maturín, the different city".

At the beginning of the XXI century, large shopping centers and residential areas were built on the outskirts of the city such as Tipuro, Palma Real, San Miguel and many others. Among the shopping centers, the Ciudad Comercial Petroriente and the Monagas Plaza Shopping Center to the north and the La Cascada Shopping Center to the south (the latter was inaugurated in November 2001) stand out.

On February 4, 2012, an oil spill occurred in the Guarapiche river as a consequence of the rupture of an oil pipeline of the Jusepin Operational Complex of PDVSA. The spilled crude oil reached the Maturín water treatment plant, located in the Bajo Guarapiche sector, which forced the regional government to close the plant for a short time. The accident caused the contamination of the vegetation near the river, a shortage of drinking water in Maturín and the temporary suspension of activities in several educational institutes. On February 9, 2012, the mayor of Maturín, José Maicavares, declared that "Maturín is experiencing the biggest catastrophe in its entire history."

By August 2016, products from Brazil such as sugar, rice, wheat flour and vegetable oil begin to arrive, to minimize shortages in Venezuela. On August 25 of the same year, an arrest warrant was issued against the Mayor of Maturín, Warner Jiménez. By September 9, Antonio Goncalves was assigned as mayor in charge of the Maturín municipality. In October he changed a mayor in charge of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela / Simón Bolívar Great Patriotic Pole known as Wilfredo Ordaz.At the end of the year, dismissals were made in the Maturín City Hall.

Between April and May 2017, various demonstrations and protests took place in the center of Maturín against the government of President Nicolás Maduro. In early June, raids and arrests were carried out in the El Faro urban development, by the National Guard of people who participated in the so-called National Plantón. By the end of June, doctors and patients held protests in the vicinity of the Manuel Núñez Tovar Hospital, due to the shortage of medicines. In mid-September, the stations can be seen of gasoline crowded due to fuel supply failures. Public transport in the city is difficult and as alternatives they use trucks, this transport option has been called "kennels". On December 10, 2017, Wilfredo Ordaz was elected mayor of Maturín for the period 2017-2021.

For 2018, they protest in the center of Maturín, for lack of cash in banks. On May 9 of the same year, President Nicolás Maduro visited Maturín as part of his electoral campaign for the presidential elections of the same year. From the PDVSA complex in Jusepin an oil spill occurred in the Guarapiche River on July 6, 2018, the announcement was made known by the Governor of the Monagas State. On July 21 of the same year, Governor Santaella in the company of the Minister of Public Works Marleny Contreras, will inaugurate the distributor of the south node of the city. On the night of January 22, 2019, various demonstrations took place in rejection of the government of President Nicolás Maduro, in various neighborhoods of the city. A day later, a march was held along Bolívar Avenue with Juncal.

A nationwide power cut occurred that affected the Maturín municipality and lasted more than 24 hours, on March 7, 2019. After the announcement made by Juan Guaidó on the morning of April 30, 2019, Upon the start of Operation Libertad, protesters took to the streets of the city, mainly between Libertador Avenue and El Ejército, next to the Weapons Tank. At the end of September and October 2019, Mayor Wilfredo Ordaz was criticized for cutting down trees in different streets of the city.

Due to the coronavirus disease pandemic in the world, the first case was confirmed for Monagas State on March 21, 2020 in the city. As a preventive measure, a mandatory social quarantine was issued throughout the state, noting the low influx of passers-by in public spaces, the business hours of commerce in the city center were also reduced. Between the months of April and May, the shortage of gasoline in the service stations of the city. At the beginning of June, fuel began to be distributed at gas stations in a controlled manner and limiting the number of liters per vehicle. Long lines were observed at the stations to fill gasoline, coming from Iran. Some stations were also set up to buy fuel in foreign currency at international prices. On November 24, 2021, Ana Fuentes was proclaimed mayor of the Maturín Municipality. In September 2022, the municipal authorities agreed on the ordering of public transport to decongest Bicentenario and Bolívar avenues along Azcue street.

Geography

Relief and hydrography

The characteristic landscape is tabletop. The city has several river currents such as the Guarapiche river, the Orinoco pipe (Orinoco avenue) and the Juanico morichal (near the Libertador Experimental Pedagogical University). Several of these streams, such as the Juanico morichal, are contaminated by human activity in their vicinity. The Yagrumito Volcano is a mud volcano located 6 km southeast of the city of Maturín.

Climate

Average climate parameters of Maturlin Airport (1970-1998)
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Average temperature (°C)	30.7	31.4	32.2	32.8	32.4	30.9	30.9	31.6	32.3	32.3	31.5	30.7	31.6
Average temperature (°C)	26.2	26.6	27.1	27.8	27.8	26.9	26.9	27.4	27.9	27.9	27.4	26.6	27.2
Temp. medium (°C)	21.7	21.7	22.0	22.8	23.2	22.9	22.8	23.1	23.5	23.4	23.2	22.4	22.7
Relative humidity (%)	74.5	71.5	70.5	70.0	72.0	76.5	76.5	75.5	74.0	74.0	76.5	76.0	74
Source: National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (INAMEH)

Average climate parameters of Maturín (1961-1990)
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Rains (mm)	58	33	24	37	100	208	215	177	131	107	135	111	1336
Rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm)	9.7	5.7	4.0	4.2	10.6	18.1	19.6	17.8	12.8	12.1	14.2	12.6	141.4
Hours of sun	248.0	226.0	251.1	228.0	213.9	168.0	186.0	204.6	213.0	232.5	219.0	229.4	2619.5
Source: Hong Kong Observatory

Vegetation

Morichales in Maturín.

Tropical dry forest. Plant species characteristic of open savannah are found such as: Hairy straw (Paspalum paniculatum), Chaparro (Curatella americana), Oil (Copaifera officinalis), Butternut chaparro (Byrsonima crassifolia) and Morichales (Mauritia flexuosa).

Environment

The city of Maturín has presented an environmental problem, both with drinking water and waste collection. The first is why the Guarapiche River, the main tributary that supplies the city, has suffered oil spills on several occasions. Regarding waste collection, the inefficient service in the collection routes and the reduced number of units for them cause an accumulation of garbage in the streets. Even some parks and squares have been affected, since they have been used as temporary landfills (dumps). The main sanitary landfill of the city is located on the outskirts of it, it is called Potrerito. That not only receives waste from the Maturín municipality, but also from other neighboring municipalities.

Demographics

Territorial division and population

According to the Partial Reform of the Monagas State Territorial Political Division Law, published in the Monagas State Official Gazette dated July 29, 1998, Extraordinary No., the city is divided into the following urban parishes:

• High of the Godos
• Boquerón, they have the particularity of celebrating their own carnival from Plaza Doña Menca to the sector El Zorro.
• The Cottons.
• Saint Simon
• Santa Cruz

The population and housing census, carried out by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela in 2011, gave the following results in terms of urban population by parish:

The sum of the urban population of the parishes indicates that Maturín had 447,283 inhabitants for the year 2011, in 2015 it is expected that the population will have reached half a million inhabitants (514,046 inhabitants to be exact).

Architecture and urbanism

"Antillana" house on Avenida Las Palmeras de Maturín.

Its territory is extensive and flat, with very few slopes. It rarely suffers complications from earthquakes and tremors (low seismicity). It has a source of fresh water such as the Guarapiche River. The city of Maturín after oil exploration and exploitation has been growing gradually and horizontally. As it is not surrounded by mountains, Maturín has ample space for its expansion. The demographic increase has led to the collapse of basic services, to the emergence of shacks (precarious housing) in the poorest areas and to traffic congestion on its streets. Before the 2000s, American-style houses could be seen in the center of the city and others have defined them as Antillean houses.

The city has public squares and parks. It also has a diversity of trees on the main avenues, the species that can often be seen are the Apamate, the Mahogany, even the Araguaney. Planting species such as the Saman has been avoided to prevent the deterioration of the streets and sidewalks.

Starting in the year 2000, it suffered from land invasions in different sectors of the Maturín municipality, one of them being the Santa Inés sector, Invasión de la Puente. The northern zone is the one with the greatest urban development in recent years. Large shopping and business centers such as Monagas Plaza and Ciudad Comercial Petroriente are located along Alirio Ugarte Pelayo avenue. Residential sectors such as Tipuro or San Miguel Country Club, the latter of a country type, are also found in the northern zone.

To the southeast are upper-middle class commercial and residential areas such as Las Avenidas, Juanico and La Floresta. The Las Avenidas sector concentrates a large number of private health centers, restaurants, and a variety of shops and services. The south of Maturín has recently had a great growth in constructions. The important land routes in the area are Raúl Leoni avenue and the southern highway. The shopping centers Ciudad Comercial La Cascada and Parque Morichal, formerly Sigo are located there. In the western zone is the Maturín Industrial Zone, the Monumental Stadium and several residential complexes. The main roads are Bella Vista avenue and the main avenue of the Industrial Zone.

The center of the city has the headquarters of the government, the state parliament, the mayor's office and other public bodies. There are the oldest buildings, which are from the end of the XIX century (Church of San Simón) or the beginning of the XX century (Government Palace, tropical American-style houses on Las Palmeras avenue). Important thoroughfares in the center of Maturín are Bolívar avenue, Bicentenario avenue, Libertador avenue, Orinoco avenue and Juncal avenue. To the southwest of the city is the Los Guaritos urbanization, an area of great residential and commercial boom, famous for the epithet of "The factory of pretty women".

Economy

Maturín houses the headquarters of PDVSA – Monagas. The city has the Zona Industrial de Maturín C.A. (ZIMCA) where several companies have established themselves. It has liquor industries such as Alcoholes y Añejos Monagas and Industrias Bravo & cia. Maturín is one of the most expensive cities in Venezuela. According to the BCV National Consumer Price Index, Maturín ranked first in December 2008 in terms of inflation. In October 2011, Maturín was in third place, according to BCV and INE figures. 2012, the National Consumer Price Index of the BCV and the INE showed that Maturín and Maracay had an accumulated inflation of 17.7%; which made them the most expensive in the country.

Infrastructures

Health

Since the 19th century Maturín has been plagued by tropical diseases transmitted by mosquitoes such as yellow fever. In the thirties and forties of the XX century, fumigation programs have been carried out to eliminate insect vectors of diseases. Thanks to this, tropical diseases were eliminated. But in the nineties of the last century, diseases such as dengue have risen again due to the lack of continuity of the fumigation campaigns.

Maturín has several public hospitals and numerous private clinics. The main health center in Maturín is the Hospital "Dr. Manuel Núñez Tovar", located on Avenida Bicentenario. Another public hospital is the "Dr. José María Vargas", located in the town of Los Guaritos. Maturín is home to a psychiatric care center and a nursing home. It also has the Oriental Cardiovascular Center Dr. "Miguel Hernandez" which is a health institution committed to providing care in the cardiology area in order to optimize the level of comprehensive medical care through activities of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment (outpatient), cardiovascular rehabilitation (CV), medical and community education, registration and analysis of statistics and clinical and epidemiological research.

The Serres healthcare center located in the Las Cocuizas neighborhood. Among the private health centers are the Hospital Metropolitano de Maturín. There is also a sector called Las Avenidas, where a large number of clinics and laboratories specialized in the health area are housed, which include the Medical Center, the Maturín Polyclinic, La Pirámide, Isamica, Divino Niño Health Center.

Transportation

Bicentennial Avenue.

The most widely used means of transportation are buses, minibuses (bans) and carts per position, which allow connecting different neighborhoods with the city center. In 2010 there were some 7,500 public transport units in Maturín, however they were insufficient to satisfy the existing demand. Added to this situation is the vehicular congestion on various avenues, the scarcity of stops and parking lots. A problem in recent years is the malfunction of traffic equipment such as traffic lights in the center of the city. In March 2023, a modern intelligent traffic light system was installed on Juncal and Ribas streets in the city. During the mayoralty of Walner Jiménez, the creation of a light rail was proposed. The main avenues of Maturín are, among others:

• Alirio Ugarte Pelayo Avenue: Inaugurated in the 1980s and is the main way of entry and exit to the city on its north side, it also allows to reach the Monagas Plaza and Petroriente shopping centers, in addition to the Stauffer Hotel and other commercial establishments and reputable urbanizations. His name is in honor of the governor of the State Monagas Alirio Ugarte Pelayo, one of the first to contribute to the modernization of the city of Maturín
• Avenida Andrés Eloy Blanco
• Avenida Bella Vista: It is the way out of the city on its west side, starts after passing the Plaza el Indio Maturín. On its way you can find the Metropolitan Hospital, the headquarters of the Municipal and State Police (separated streets), the Hotel Venetur and you can also reach the sector La Cruz, Alto Paramaconi, San Jaime (where the Monumental State is located), this avenue also leads to the Corozo and the Furrial.
• Avenida Bicentenario: Built in the 60s by the bicentennial of the foundation of the city and one of the main arteries of the city, on its way you can see buildings such as La Plaza El Indio Maturín, El Hospital Universitario Manuel Núñez Tovar (inaugurated in 1965), the national liceos Ildefonso Núñez Mares and Francisco Isnardi, the Coffell Plaza and Avardi. Bolivar.
• Bolivar Avenue: It is one of the oldest sections of the city. Data from the mid-centuryXIX and it was known as the Bolivar Street which crossed the famous Latin Quarter, home of the families of the children of yesterday such as Los Núñez and others. Its original section ranged from Plaza Piar to what is now Plaza Rómulo Gallegos and currently, the stretch has been extended to Parque La Guaricha, that new section was opened in the 1950s during the government of Alirio Ugarte Pelayo (Monagas governor between 1951 and 1953).
• Avenida Cruz Peraza: Inaugurated in 1983 and became an alternative to surround the city from Bellavista Avenue to Alirio Ugarte Pelayo Avenue without having to go through the center.
• Avenida El Ejército
• Avenida Fuerzas Armadas
• Avenida José Antonio Páez: Connect Bellavista Avenue with Avenida Principal de los Guaritos crossing the Avenida El Ejército.
• José Gregorio Monagas Avenue
• Juncal Avenue: Another of the oldest sections of the city, dates from the second half of the centuryXIX and was known as Calle Juncal which began in the Caño Maturín and arrived to the Banqueado, so it was always a main artery of the city that crossed the historical center of it. In the 1960s it became a great Avenue that today is one of the main axes of the city and not only covers its original section, now it reaches Libertador Avenue after passing the old Doña Menca park of Leoni.
• Avenida La Paz
• Las Palmeras Avenues: First Avenue of Maturín, opened in 1910 and known as The Great Avenue (later called Av. Emilio Fernández and then Av. Monagas), this area was the economic and social centre of the city for years until during the modernization of the city, the center was extended to its current limits. On that Avenue you can find the Residence of the Governor, the Hotel Mallorca, the old Rialto Cinema, the Foundation of the Child and there once worked the first hospital of Maturín between 1910 and 1942.
• Libertador Avenue: It is also a main avenue, its construction began around the 60s and 70s. It connects the Avenida Rómulo Gallegos with Avenida Bella Vista and crosses numerous strategic points of the city.
• Avenida Los Pájaros: Located between the sector Los Guaritos and Alto de los Godos.
• Avenida Luis del Valle García: Inaugurated in 1961, parallel to Bolivar Avenue and is also one of the main routes of the city; there are numerous clinics and hospitals.
• Miranda Avenue: It is part of the city center, first known as Calle Miranda.
• Avenida Orinoco: It is a road artery that connects two sections of Libertador Avenue, the avenue is surrounded by the Orinoco Caño that has always been a reference point of the city.
• Avenida Raúl Leoni: Inaugurated between the 60s and 70s
• Avenida Ribas
• Avenida Rómulo Gallegos
• University Avenue: Call thus as it passes by the headquarters of the University of the East (UDO).

Maturín communicates with other cities through:

• The Midurban Terminal, a bus and taxi terminal located on Libertador Avenue. It is administered by the municipality through the Autonomous Service of Interurban and Suburban Terminal of the Municipality of Maturín (Satiusum), since 9 July 2012.

Air transportation

José Tadeo Monagas International Airport (Interior)

The city has a main airport for the entire Monagas State. The José Tadeo Monagas International Airport, flights are made mainly to Caracas and Margarita Island. Internationally, flights were made to Trinidad and Tobago.

Public services

The water and sewage service is managed by the public company Aguas de Monagas. The service is supplied through a main and a secondary water treatment plant. The Bajo Guarapiche Water Treatment Plant and the Mapirito plant. There are also wells in the Paradero sector of the Boquerón parish.

Electrical service was installed starting in 1911, when the first electric plant was built. Currently, the Electricity Corporation of Venezuela (CORPOELEC) is in charge, previously it was called CADAFE.

Natural gas service is provided by PDVSA's subsidiary, PDVSA Gas. There is also the company GASMACA for its distribution. Maturín does not have a pipeline distribution structure as in other places, although there are small neighborhoods that have this distribution method. The main way to transport and maintain gas is by cylinders or cylinders.

The telecommunications service has several public and private companies, being CANTV the most representative, although there are private companies such as Movistar and Digitel that provide fixed and mobile telephony services. In addition to these, there is the company Clix that offers internet service, as well as the company Inter, formerly called Intercable. This last one has cable television service.

Regarding the waste collection service, it is administered by the Mayor's Office of the Maturín Municipality, but it is not enough to cover the entire territory. So, there are small private waste collection companies that focus on covering this need in urbanizations, organizations and small private neighborhoods.

Security

Maturín is present by the Monagas State Police. It also has the Municipal Police of Maturín (POMU) which is intervened. Other organizations that can be observed in the city are the Bolivarian National Police and the National Guard.

Education

Universities

Maturín is home to several public and private universities and higher education institutes that offer courses in different sectors and types. It is the city that has most of the universities in the Monagas State.

UDO Headquarters in Maturín.

UBV headquarters in Maturín.

Public Universities:

• Universidad Nacional Experimental Rómulo Gallegos (UNERG) — Nucleo de Monagas, aimed at health science. It is located in the parish of Las Cocuizas. Since 2020 it offers professorships of Medicine, Physiotherapy and Nursing. In 2022, he incorporated Psychology, Radiodiagnosis, Nutrition and Dietetics, Cytotechnology and Dentistry.
• University of the East (UDO) — Nucleus of Monagas.
• Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez (UNESR) — Maturín Extension.
• Bolivarian University of Venezuela (UBV) — Nucleus de Monagas.
• Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador (UPEL) — Maturin Extension // Pedagogical Institute of Maturin — (IPM).
• Open National University (UNA).
• Universidad Nacional Experimental de la Seguridad (UNES - Centro de Formación Monagas).

Private Universities

• Instituto Universitario Politécnico Santiago Mariño (IUPSM) — Maturín Extension.
• Universidad Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho (UGMA) — Nucleo Maturín.
• Universidad Católica Cecilio Acosta (UNICA) (distance studies).
• University of Margarita (UNIMAR) (postgraduate courses are studied there).

Private Institutes of Higher Education

• Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Industrial Rodolfo Loero Arismendi (IUTIRLA) — Headquarters Maturín.
• University Institute of Technology Venezuela (IUTV) — Maturín Headquarters.

Sports

Facilities

The city has the Maturín Sports Complex and was built for the 1982 National Games. It has various facilities for practicing sports such as basketball, soccer, minor baseball, soccer salon, tennis, swimming, cycling and track and field. It is located on Raúl Leoni avenue.

• Monumental Stadium of Maturin: It is the largest football stadium in Venezuela. It has an approximate capacity of 52,000 spectators. It was one of the headquarters of the Copa América 2007 and the South American Championship Sub-20 of 2009.

• Viboral Kartodrome: place of motocross competition, karting and tuning car displays at national level.
• San Miguel Country Club Golf Course: located north of the city.

Sports Equipment

Monumental Stadium of Maturin.

Club	League	Stadium	Founded	Titles
Monagas Sport Club	FUTVE League	Monumental Stadium of Maturin	1987	2
Atletico La Cruz	FUTVE 2 League	Monumental Stadium of Maturin	2020	0
Sulmona FC	AC3 FUTVE	Alexander Bottini Stadium.	2006	0
Monagas Crabs	Basketball Superlight (SLB)	Gymnasium Gilberto Roque Morales	2013	0
Elite Rugby Club Monagas	Venezuelan Rugby Club Championship	Alexander Bottini Stadium.	2011	0

Culture

Literature

It is important to mention important writers and poets such as Julián Padrón, from whom the Julián Padrón Library bears his name as a legacy.

Dances

There are various dances that are traditionally performed in schools and cultural shows, how they are; the Dance of the burriquita, the drum and the guarandol bird, among others.

Festivities

The Maturín Carnival stands out for the parade in the center of the city of troupes and floats made by the communities, educational institutions, public organizations and private companies. After the parade, there are musical shows in the local sports complex, in addition to the act for the election of the carnival queen. The route used to take place from Plaza Piar along the entire Avenida Bicentenaria with Bolívar to the intersection with Avenida Raul Leoni. In 2023, the parade was held on Avenida Raul Leoni.

In the same way, for this festivity there are streets in various sectors such as Alberto Ravell, Viento Colao and Las Cocuizas, which participate in the best decorated street in the Maturín Carnival.

The Festivity of the Virgen del Valle is celebrated in September. Processions with the image of the Virgen del Valle are held in various areas of the city.

The San Simón Fair is held to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the city. It takes place in the first week of December. There are shows such as dances, a food expo, an exhibition of riding horses, coleo, presentations of musical groups, agricultural and craft exhibitions. It takes place at the Chucho Palacios Fair Complex. It bears the name of San Simón in honor of Simón el Zelote, patron saint of Maturín.

The burning of Judas, this event takes place on Easter Sunday, where they light a doll with fire. In recent years these dolls have been personalized by contemporary politicians.

Gastronomy

The gastronomy in the city of Maturín is nested to that of all of Venezuela, traditionally you can find Cachapa, Arepa, the Pabellón Criollo and the papelón with lemon.

Somewhat more native to Monagas with its innumerable rivers, fish are used and in Maturín the Sancocho de Guaraguara is made, it is a soup made from a river fish called Guaraguara. Likewise, boiled fish and fried fish are made.

For Christmas and New Year's Eve, they usually make Hallacas, Ham Bread and chicken or chicken salad. At Easter, red meat is not usually eaten, fish dishes are made, such as cake and tortillas, Morrocoy Cake is also made, but to a lesser extent, even though there are laws that protect its hunting and commercialization. Cuajao or curd is also highlighted, it is a meal that is made with stewed fish, fried plantain, it is accompanied with rice or arepa, even with green plantain balls, prior dates before Easter the Cuajao Fair is usually held in the different markets of the city of Maturín so that the inhabitants make this dish.

In the town of Corozo and Furrial, on the outskirts of Maturín, traditional sweets such as preserves and fruits bathed in syrup are usually sold. In the center of Maturín it is common to find Raspado vendors, it is an appetizer made with grated ice and a flavored liquid.

Another aspect of maturine cuisine is the accompaniment of meals with Casabe, which is a very thin roasted cake made from cassava or cassava.

In recent years, innovations of indigenous origin have emerged, one of them from the cassava sauce, commercially called Kumachi.

Maturín is home to a large foreign community descendants of China, Lebanon and Syria, therefore there are many Arab and Chinese restaurants, among the best known dishes are fried rice, lumpias, Chopsuey, Shawarma, Falafel, among others.

As for street food, you can often see many empanada stands in different parts of the city, generally on one side of the street, there are also hot dog stands, which They are like hot dogs, hamburgers and pepitos, the latter is a sandwich stuffed with meat, chicken and chop, some with cheese and ham, they also add grated potato, carrot, onion and seasoned with various sauces.

Traditions

At Christmas, as in other parts of Venezuela, there is a tradition of exchanging hallacas between families.

Music

Because it is considered a plains territory, the city of Maturín is dominated by the Joropo, it can also be considered that many musicians perform the so-called "contra punteo". This style is described as a llanero rap between two or more people.

Traditional Games

• The sac race is a race with a sack to the waist and players must jump to the finish.
• The egg and spoon consists of a race where a spoon is held with the mouth and it carries a chicken egg, the intention is that the egg does not fall from the cooking utensil.
• Metras or pichas are small cylinders or glass balls.
• Fusilado, it's a game that's usually played with a ball.
• Chapita, it's a street game similar to baseball, but it's played with soda tapas or beer and a broom stick.
• Quadrito, is a game of two or four people, a box is drawn on the floor and a ball is used, where they must defend the picture.
• Zaranda Game.

Parrots

Also called flyers or kites in other countries. There are those who dedicate themselves to its elaboration, using the most appropriate wood or rods, creating very colorful designs with silk paper, among its forms the best known is called a star, there is also a balloon, cigarron.

Public and historical spaces

Walks

Wall of the Plaza de las artesOn the Bolivar Walk.

Square of sculpturesOn the Bolivar Walk.

• Aerobic Walk: located in the Juanico sector. It offers magnificent views of the departure and entry of the planes to the airstrip of the city airport.
• Paseo Bolívar: is at the end of Bolivar Avenue. It was opened on 22 February 2011. It has the following attractions:

♪ Casa de la Cultura Inicita Aceituno.

♪ Square of musicians.

♪ Plaza de las artes.

♪ Potility goddess sculpture.

♪ Square of the flags: there are several flags of Venezuela, the Monagas state and the Maturín municipality.

♪ Square of sculptures: has the sculptures of Indigenous at rest, indigenous weaver e indigenous hunter.

• Paseo de Los Proceres: is located on the avenue Raúl Leoni, next to the park La Guaricha. It has printed in the caminterías, lighting and busts of 11 characters of Venezuelan independence: Simón Bolívar, Manuel Piar, Manuel Cedeño, José Francisco Bermúdez, José Félix Ribas, Francisco de Miranda, Antonio José de Sucre, José Tadeo Monagas, Rafael Urdaneta, Pedro Camejo and Francisco Carvajal “Tigre Encaramado”.
• Paseo Libertador: located in front of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen. An equestrian statue of Simon Bolivar, opened on 1 December 1983, was there. Years later, the statue was moved to the headquarters of the Bolivarian University of Venezuela.

Parks

Parque Andrés Eloy Blanco

• Parque Andrés Eloy Blanco: located on the south road.
• Parque del Este: located in La Floresta.
• La Guaricha Zoo Park: is located on the avenue Raúl Leoni, near the former terminal of the International Airport José Tadeo Monagas popularly known as the Old airport, there is currently the headquarters of the Institute of Terrestrial Transit (INTT). The park was built between 1976 and 1978 and has since been a landmark icon of the city.
• Bolívar recreational park: located in the sector Los Guaritos.
• Parque Doña Menca de Leoni: It was the first zoo in Maturín until the construction of the La Guaricha Zoo, it was on Juncal Avenue. His name is in honor of the wife of President Raúl Leoni: Carmen América Fernández de Leoni popularly known as Doña Menca de Leoni. The park was closed in November 2020 to give way to the construction of a new plaza.
• Padilla Ron Park: located in the sector Las Cocuizas.
• Parque Rómulo Betancourt: located at the University Avenue.

Places

• Plaza 7 de diciembre: also called "Plaza 7", is located between the avenues Bolivar and Azcúe, at the head of the Bolivarian University of Venezuela. It has in the center a monument in the form of number seven. It was built by the Rotary Club in 1960 to commemorate the bicentennial of the foundation of Maturín.
• Plaza Ayacucho: is on Juncal Avenue and in front of school Republic of Uruguay. It has a marble bust of Antonio José de Sucre erected on December 19, 1931. It is one of the oldest public enclosures in the city, it was known as the Plaza de lndependencia in which, the passengers downloaded their goods.

Plaza Bolívar

• Plaza Bolívar: it is the main square of Maturín and is at the same time the oldest in the city, it was known as Plaza Mayor until 1909 when Plaza José Tadeo Monagas was appointed with a bust of his in the center. Since December 17, 1930 he has a pedestre statue of Simon Bolivar and on that date he acquired the current name. In front of her is the Government Palacewhere the Governor of Monagas performs his duties.

Government Palace

• Plaza de la Resistencia Indígena: is located in the avenue El Army. He had a bust of Christopher Columbus erected on October 12, 1976 by the Lions Club, so it was called "Plaza Colón". The City Council renamed the square as Plaza de la resistencia indígena on 12 October 2006. Columbus' bust was withdrawn.
• Plaza el Balancín: is on Bolivar Avenue, opposite the headquarters of the Maturin City Hall. It receives its name from a balancín (bomb of rod) placed there as a reminder of the oil activity in the Monagas state.
• Plaza El Indio Maturín: also called "Plaza El Indio", is located in a corner between Bicentennial and Libertador avenues. In it is a pedestre statue of the Indio Maturín (made in 1960 by the sculptor Efraín Villarroel de Moya) and some 13 metal tubular figures representing the municipalities of the Monagas state.
• Plaza de la Cultura: located within the headquarters of the Maturin City Hall. Cultural acts are done there.
• Plaza de Estudiante Guerra y Millán: also called "Plaza del Estudiante", is opposite the Juana La Avanzadora redoma. It has in the center a work of art of Juvenal Ravelo called the Multi-Facted Tridimensional Cylinder. Its name is due in honor of two students killed (Rafael Guerra and Alberto Millán) by paramilitaries of the Partido Acción Democrática (AD) in the liceo Miguel José Sanz de Maturín on May 4, 1962 in the midst of the instability of the nascent Venezuelan democracy.
• Plaza Francisco de Miranda: located next to the Mateo Manaure Museum. It was built on November 6, 1952. He has a bronze statue of Francisco de Miranda.
• Plaza Fray Lucas de Zaragoza: located at the end of Raul Leoni Avenue. It has a statue of the founder of the city, that statue was previously located in the Lower Guarapiche sector.
• Plaza José Miguel Guanaguanay: located in the avenue El Army. It has a pedestre statue of José Miguel Guanaguanay, an indigenous leader who participated in the Battle of the High of Godos. The statue was unveiled on 25 May 2007.
• Plaza José Tadeo Monagas: located on Las Palmeras Avenue. The bronze bust of José Tadeo Monagas was donated by the Provincial Council of Cumaná in 1882; but it was forgotten until 1907 when it was placed in Bolivar Square in 1909. In 1930 the bust was moved to its current site. In the surroundings of the square are some of the oldest buildings in the city like the Official residence of the Governor of Monagasinaugurated on 13 April 1951 by Alirio Ugarte Pelayo.
• Plaza Piar: It is between Bicentennial Avenue and Azcúe Street. The bronze bust of Manuel Piar was donated by the Piar District (now Piar Municipality) in 1913 on the occasion of the centenary of the Eastern Campaign. This square was also known as Plaza Acosta and was located at the edge of the city at the end of Bolivar Street (today Avenida Bicentenario), it was the western limit of the city.
• Plaza Rómulo Gallegos: is located between Bolivar Avenue and Azcúe Street (north-south sense) and between Chimborazo Street with Miranda Avenue (seated east-west). It had a luminous fountain, a bronze sculpture by Rómulo Gallegos (developed on April 19, 1971) and an elevated platform where public acts are made. Nearby are the headquarters of the Alcaldía de MaturínOf the Municipal Council of Maturín and the Legislative Council of the Monagas State. Where today the Plaza was located between 1942 and 1965 the Hospital Manuel Núñez Tovar de Maturin, in those years, the headquarters of the police, a gas station, the Central Market of Maturín (placed where the headquarters of CANTV is next to the mayor's office).

• Redoma Juana la Avanzadora: Located in Bolivar Avenue. is a luminous fountain with a bronze statue of Juana Ramírez, made by the Italian sculptor Renzo Bianchini and placed there in 1952. The statue is surrounded by an allegorical set representing cattle ranching, indigenous race and oil production. The source is currently not active.
• Plaza Bomba: It is located on the main avenue of Los Guaritos. It is a very busy square by the inhabitants of this urbanism, because it is an area of high commercial and social activity. He has also been the protagonist of various political acts. [1]

Notable religious buildings

• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Carmen: Romanesque Catholic temple. It is between Bolivar Avenue and Monagas Street. Inaugurated in 1981, Our Lady of Carmen Cathedral is considered one of the most modern cathedrals in Latin America. It has nice windows that adorn its interior.
• Saint Simon Church: is the oldest Catholic temple in Maturín. It was built between 1884 and 1887. It is neo-gothic style, with ojiva-shaped arches. It has a central tower on the facade. He's on Red Street, in front of Bolivar Square.
• San Ignacio de Loyola Churchlocated in the Fundemos sector.
• San José Obrero Temple, located in the sector of Los Bloques.
• Temple of Saint CharbelIt is located on the outskirts of the La Cascada shopping center.
• St. John the Baptist ChurchIt's in the Floresta.
• Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, located in Las Cocuizas.

Libraries, galleries, museums and theaters

Casa de la Cultura de Maturín

• Julian Library: was created on October 23, 1954 as a reading room. In 1979 she was moved to a larger building on Orinoco Avenue. On August 12, 2010, he was transferred to the Cultural Complex of Maturín; in a three-storey building.
• Casa de la Cultura Inicita Aceituno: small theatre room located on the Bolivar walk. It has at the entrance an exhibition hall of works of art.
• Cultural Complex of Maturín: group of buildings where the headquarters of the Monagas State Institute of Culture and various cultural institutions such as Eloy Palacios Plastic Art Technical School, the Museum Mateo Manaure and the Julian Library.
• Hacienda Sarrapial: typical case of the time of the agrarian Venezuela. It is the headquarters of the Corporación Monaguense de Turismo. Located at Alirio Ugarte Pelayo Avenue, Boquerón High.
• Shop and Gallery Art Network: space belonging to the Red de Arte Foundation of the Ministry of Popular Power for Culture. It is located at Plaza Guarapiche Shopping Centre, Avenida Bolívar N-49, between 11th and 10th Street, 13th Mezzanine Level.

Media

Print

The city is home to the newspapers Ciudad Maturín, El Oriental, El Periódico de Monagas, El Sol de Maturín, La Prensa de Monagas and La Verdad de Monagas.

Radius

There are private, state (RNV and Moriche) and community stations; the latter are affiliated with the Community and Alternative Media Network of Monagas state.

TV

Notable Maturinese

• Eloy Palacios, sculptor
• Rafael Castellín, ex-futbolist
• Alexander Bottini, ex-futbolist
• José Fasciana, ex-futbolist
• César González, footballer
• Edder Farías, footballer
• Rubert Quijada, soccer player
• Jacobo Kouffati, soccer player
• Carlos Cermeño, soccer player
• 'Miki' Romero, footballer
• Eduardo Lima, soccer player
• Francisco Buttó, baseball player
• Jhonattan Vegas, golfer
• Alejandro Chabán, actor
• Julio Luna, halterofilista
• Luidemar Salazar, dancer

Government and politics

List of mayors since 1989