Maracay is a popular stopover for travelers heading north to the coast.It is a busy metropolis and the 300-year-old capital of Aragua state. There's little colonial legacy left within the city center, but it does possess a few parks and leafy plazas, including the country's largest Plaza Bolívar. Maracay is also the center of an important agricultural and industrial area, and has a noticable militiary presence, especially the air force.