 Roman
Catholicism is by far the dominant religion in Venezuela, and
has been adopted by most indigenous people - only those living
in isolated regions still practice their ancient tribal beliefs.
The Protestant church has a significant presence, and recently
has been gaining some ground, attracting adherents from the
Catholic Church. An unusual and obscure pantheistic sect, known
as the Cult of María Lionza, exists in the northwest
and combines pre-Hispanic indigenous creeds, African voodoo
and Christian religious practices.
Please note that additional
info (prices, activities, etc) are found to the right of this
pages. 
 Spanish
is spoken by almost all Venezuelans, though some 25 indigenous
tongues are spoken by remote tribes. English is spoken by some
people in urban centers.
Visual arts and handicrafts are popular in Venezuela,
but the country's most distinctive cultural outlet is probably
its music, which is an eclectic blend of European, African and
indigenous rhythms. Theater is growing in popularity, and there
is an active literary scene, especially among the younger generation.
Venezuelan snacks and dishes (referred to as
comida criolla) consist mainly of pancakes, chicken, pork, beef,
soups and stews. Travelers should look out for restaurants that
serve menú del día, a very cheap set meal consisting
of soup and a main course. Local specialities include empanadas
(deep-fried cornmeal turnovers with fillings of ground meat, cheese,
beans or baby shark) and pabellón criollo (Venezuela's
national dish, which consists of shredded beef, rice, black beans,
cheese and fried plantain).
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