The University of Costa Rica, organized around individual buildings housing each major area of study, has a nature preserve at its heart. Covered walkways are prevalent which is practical given the frequent rains.
The Jade Museum, located on the first floor of the headquarters of the National Insurance Institute, has several rooms exploring historical-archaeological themes. Objects made from jade, ceramics, stone, gold and other materials are shown. The importance of jade is demonstrated by the variety of objects and in their use by religious leaders and high-ranking families. The fertility cult exhibit displayed a realistic portrayal of human sexuality. Interestingly, all of the jade comes from Guatemala.
The Gold Museum, sponsored by the Central Bank of Costa Rica, has thousands of examples of pre-Columbian gold artifacts. The building is situated under the Plaza de la Cultura and extends three stories down in an upside down pyramid shape. Our tour guide, Wendy, shared her love of country and the amazing techniques of artisans to create such detailed, unique pieces. Many pieces were intricate representations of local animals. Some pieces use a combination of copper.
The National Theater, completed in 1897 and declared a national monument in 1965, was designed in the neo-classical style with lots Italian marble. Costa Ricans take pride in this cultural symbol for good reason.
