Cumana

Cumaná was the first settlement founded by Spain in Venezuela and South America, established in 1515 by Franciscan friars, under the name Nueva Toledo, but due to successful attacks by the indigenous people (such as the Cumanagoto people), it had to be refounded several times until Diego Hernández de Serpa's refoundation in 1569 with the name of Cumaná. The birthright of the continent is disputed with the town of Santa Fe (Sucre). Bartolomé de las Casas, attempting a peaceful colonization scheme, was preempted by Gonzalo de Ocampo's 1521 punitive raids against the local indigenous people, in retaliation for the destruction of the Dominican convent at Chiribichi. In 1537, New Andalusia Province was established, with Cumaná as capital (for which the province was also known as the Province of Cumaná). …

Cumaná has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh), narrowly bordering a tropical savanna climate (Aw).

The city features various colonial-style architecture. The Castle of Saint Anthony of the Eminence, a large Spanish fort, is open to the public and can be seen from the beach. Also surviving is the Santa Maria de la Cabeza castle, which was built in 1669. The Museo del Mar (Museum of the Sea) displays marine and maritime artifacts. The Basilica of Saint Agnes is the oldest church in the city. Restored around 1853, it is located in the San Francisco neighborhood, adjacent to the ruins of the Castle of Santa María de La Cabeza. It is noteworthy that the Church of Saint Agnes was not the first church constructed in the area; the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, situated between the Castles of Santa María and San Antonio, was built shortly after the establishment of the Colonial Settlement. This church served as the city's first cathedral and retains the title of co-cathedral. …

The city is served by Antonio José de Sucre Airport, with commercial passenger airline flights to Caracas.

Iñaki Anasagasti (b. 1947), Spanish politician Rafael Betancourt (b. 1975), baseball player Andrés Eloy Blanco (1897–1955), poet, humorist and politician José Buttó, (b. 1998), baseball player Armando Galarraga (b. 1982), baseball player Edgardo Henriquez (b. 2002), baseball player César Jiménez (b. 1984), baseball player Luis Maza (b. 1980), baseball player Javier Otero (b. 2002), footballer Luis Peñalver (b. 1941), baseball player Vanessa Peretti (b. 1986), first deaf entrant in the Miss Venezuela pageant Gelmin Rivas (b. 1989), footballer Francisco Sánchez (b. 1976), swimmer, world champion Antonio José de Sucre (1795–1830), independence leader Jesús Sucre (b. 1988), baseball player José Antonio Ramos Sucre (1890–1930), poet and diplomat