San José is the capital of the Republic of Costa Rica and the head of the province of the same name. Located in the center of the country, specifically on the intervolcanic plateau called Central Valley, and contained entirely by the canton of the same name. Its metropolitan area, with approximately 3,160,000 inhabitants, makes San José the most important political, economic and social center of the Costa Rican territory, as well as the main hub for transportation and telecommunications. Culturally it can be considered almost entirely with European influence given by immigration (especially Spanish and Italian) and the coupling of trends born in France and Belgium since the end of the 19th century. This can be seen in the layout of the city, which grew up around the current cathedral, and later in its architecture. Like the oldest cantons of the country, the canton of San José was founded on December 7, 1848, however the population emerged around 1737. Throughout its history, as a city of strategic importance, it has been the capital of the República on three occasions and, currently, its center is an eminently commercial area that brings together more than 1 million people daily. The Metropolitan Area of ​​San José is made up of the other satellite districts of Joseph and another 13 cantons of the province,4 forming together with the suburbs of Cartago, Heredia and Alajuela the Greater Metropolitan Area. San José stands out among Latin American cities for its high quality of life,6​7​ security, globalization, environmental performance,8​ public services and recognized institutions (hospitals, museums, universities…), being the sixth most attractive tourist capital. of the region, leader in Central America.