Maturín () is a city in Venezuela, the capital of the Venezuelan state of Monagas and a centre for instrumental exploration and development of the petroleum industry in Venezuela. The metropolitan area of Maturín has a population of 401,384 inhabitants. Maturín is also a busy regional transportation hub, connecting routes from the northeastern coast to the Orinoco Delta and the Gran Sabana.

History

Founding

December 7, 1760, is the official date of the founding of Maturín (according to the Venezuelan Academy of History) by the Franciscan missionary Lucas de Zaragoza. However, the Jesuit priest Pablo Ojer found a document in the General Archive of the Indies which proves an earlier founding date for the city in 1722. This primitive town was called and its founder was the Spanish governor Juan de la Tornera y Sota.

|source 2 = Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología (humidity 1970–1998)

|date=October 2012

Law and government

Maturín has one municipality: Maturín Municipality; Venezuelan law specifies that municipal governments have four main functions: executive, legislative, comptroller, and planning. The executive function is managed by the mayor, who is in charge of representing the municipality's administration. The legislative branch is represented by the municipal council, composed of seven councillors, charged with the deliberation of new decrees and local laws. The comptroller tasks are managed by the municipal comptroller's office, which oversees accountancy. Finally, planning is represented by the local public planning council, which manages development projects for the municipality.

Mayors since 1990

  • María Elena de Cañizales (1990–1992), Democratic Action
  • José Enrique López Tablero (1993–1995), COPEI, Movement for Socialism
  • Domingo Urbina Simoza (1996–2000), (2000–2004), Democratic Action
  • Numa Rojas (2004–2008), Fifth Republic Movement
  • José Maicavares (2008–2013), United Socialist Party of Venezuela
  • Warner Jimenez (2013–2015), Popular Will
  • Wilfredo Ordaz (2016–2017), (2017–2021), United Socialist Party of Venezuela
  • Ana Fuentes (2021- Present), United Socialist Party of Venezuela

Economy

Maturín is one of the most important cities in the east of the country as its strategic position serves as a bridge to the other states of the region. The city has grown during the last few years mainly because of the increase in the state's oil industry. However, Maturín has been hit hard by Venezuela's recent economic crisis.

Transportation

It is possible to travel there by land or by using José Tadeo Monagas International Airport.

Higher education

thumb|right|200px|Plaza Bolívar in Maturín.

Public universities

  • Universidad de Oriente (UDO-Monagas)
  • Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador – Instituto Pedagógico de Maturín (UPEL/IPM)
  • Universidad Nacional Abierta (UNA)
  • Bolivarian University of Venezuela (UBV)
  • Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez (UNESR)

Private universities

  • Universidad Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho (UGMA)
  • Universidad Católica Cecilio Acosta (UNICA)
  • Universidad de Margarita (UNIMAR)

Private Institutes of Higher Education

  • Santiago Mariño Polytechnic University Institute (PSM)
  • I[http://psmmaturin.edu.ve]nstituto Universitario de Tecnología Industrial Rodolfo Loero Arismendi (IUTIRLA)
  • Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Venezuela (IUTV)

Places of interest

Roman Catholic churches

thumb|left|200px|The Cathedral Nuestra Señora del Carmen.

thumb|right|220px|Road of flowers in La Cascada de Maturín Mall.

  • San Simón Church: the oldest church in Maturín. It was built between 1884 and 1887 and is located in front of the Plaza Bolivar.
  • Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: a Catholic church in Romanesque style. Its construction began in 1961 and was finished in 1981. It is located on Bolívar Avenue. It is considered one of the most modern cathedrals in Latin America.

Parks

thumb|right|Landscape in Maturín

  • Parque de La Guaricha: a zoological park located on Raúl Leoni Avenue.
  • Parque Menca de Leoni: a former zoological park. It lost its status when the Parque de La Guaricha was built. Located on Juncal Avenue.
  • Parque Andrés Eloy Blanco: located on Raúl Leoni Avenue.
  • Parque Padilla Ron: located in Las Cocuizas sector.
  • Parque Rómulo Betancourt: located on Universidad Avenue, next to the Universidad de Oriente.
  • Parque de los Guaritos: located in Los Guaritos sector.

Museums, theatres and art galleries

  • (Cultural Complex of Maturín): a group of buildings where some cultural institutions are located such as the Art School "Eloy Palacios", the Virtual Library and the Museo Mateo Manaure (Museum Mateo Manaure). The Francisco de Miranda Square and a pedestrian art gallery belong to the complex.
  • (Culture House): a small theatre located on Bolívar Avenue.
  • (Art Gallery of the CONAC): it belongs to the network of art galleries of the CONAC. Located inside the Centro Comercial Guarapiche.

Others

  • Amana del Tamarindo: a small town located thirty minutes from Maturín. It received its name from a tamarind tree located in the town, like the Amana River. Under this tree, which still exists, was the birthplace of José Tadeo Monagas.
  • Plaza Bolívar: the main town square of Maturín and also the oldest of the city. In front of it is the Palacio de Gobierno (built in 1942), where the governor of the state of Monagas carries out his duties.

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Monumento al Leon en el Parque La Guaricha.jpg|La Guaricha Park

File:Cine Movie Planet en Maturin.jpg|Movie Planet Cinema

File:Museo Mateo Manaure.jpg|Mateo Manaure Museum

File:Avenida Bolivar, Maturin 001.jpg|Bolívar Avenue in Maturín

File:Atardecer desde el paseo aerobico.jpg|Sunset in Maturín

</gallery>

Sports

Sports facilities

  • Estadio Monumental de Maturín
  • Complejo Polideportivo de Maturín (Sports Complex of Maturín).

Teams

  • Monagas Sport Club: local soccer team
  • Cangrejeros de Monagas: basketball team

Other Sports Disciplines

Paddle tennis is played at the Once Padel courts in Tipuro, Maturín. On June 28, 2024, the new club's facilities were inaugurated, located within the Kariña Hotel and Club Palma Real, prior to the Maturín Paddle Masters. Additionally, there is a children's baseball team called Criollitos Monagas.

Local soccer leagues are organized by the Monagas State Football Association (AFEM). There are teams like Atlético Maturín and Academia Monagas SC, belonging to lower categories such as the Under-12 and Under-14 categories. Furthermore, there are sports schools like the Professor Antonio Mejía School dedicated to promoting the practice of this sport.

See also

  • List of cities and towns in Venezuela

References

  • Municipal website