Venezuela: Caracas – Universidad Central de Venezuela

The Central University of Venezuela (Universidad Central de Venezuela or UCV) is Venezuela’s oldest, largest, and most prominent public university. It was originally founded in 1721 by decree of King Philip V of Spain, making it one of the oldest higher education institution in the Americas. Its sprawling Caracas campus is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site for its tropical modernist architecture, masterminded between the 1940s and 1960s by famous Venezuelan architect Carlos Villanueva. Designed specifically for the Caracas climate, the campus has open-air covered walkways, breeze blocks, shaded plazas, and green courtyards. In top of that, the campus houses over 100 outdoor sculptures, mosaics, and murals by world-renowned artists. The campus is off limits usually and requires a special permit to visit.