Fodor's Expert Review Palacio Portales

Across the Río Rocha, this palace was built but never occupied by Simón Patiño, a local tin baron who amassed one of the world's largest tin fortunes. The mansion and 10-acre gardens reflect his predilection for French Renaissance style. One of the chambers on the upper floor mimics Italy's Sistine Chapel. The mansion, a five-minute taxi ride from the center of town, is now a cultural and educational center and is the most interesting place to visit in the city. The palace provides a glimpse into the Cochabamba of old, when the wealth of Potosí was flowing freely.