Located in the Andes Mountains in northwestern Venezuela, the city of Mérida is famous for its Spanish colonial architecture and extensive parks and plazas, and is an ideal place for outdoor activities. University city, tourists have the opportunity to relax in the warm sun, sample more than 800 flavors of ice cream in the many shops, and climb the surrounding snow-capped Andes, one of the longest and highest mountain ranges in the world. In addition, the historic city center, located on Bolivar Square, houses a magnificent church inspired by the famous Spanish Cathedral of Toledo, and adventure travel companies run paragliding, mountain biking, and out-of-town excursions.