Valparaíso Flat

Valparaiso flat includes from the sea shore up to the bottom of the hills. The city has three big areas, knowing them will help to organize trips around the town.

The Almond Grove Area

Begins in “Victoria” Square and finishes in “Argentina” Avenue. Its name comes from Almond groves that grew all over the place. The most important activities, historical and cultural attractions are:

National Congress: It is the seat of the Chilean Parliament, the house of the legislative power, with senators and deputies.

It was moved to Valparaiso in 1990 from Santiago with he intention of decentralizing power. During many years it was closed by Augusto Pinochet dictatorship.

Three Chilean architects built the Congress that is located in the corner of “Pedro Montt” Avenue and Argentina Avenue. The building has two important structures. One called Tower and the other “La Placa”. All sides have entrances but only the south entrance is open to the public. You need your identification card to go in, and it is free.

Cardonal Market: It is in the block form Yungay, Brasil, Rawson Streets and Uruguay Avenues. This old construction is from 1907. A characteristic of the “Cardonal” Market is the architecture, the variety of products and the colourfull stores.

Valparaiso Cathedral: It is the biggest church in the city, located in Edwards Street, between “Pedro Montt” and “Chacabuco” Street. A very old building that has been rebuilt several times.

This church was designed in 1917, but finished many years later. It contains pictures of famous artists and images with historic value, such as the ivory Christ.

Mrs. “Juana Ross de Edwards” was the church benefactor.

Municipal Theatre: Located in the corner of “Pedro Montt” Avenue and Uruguay Street. Diverse artistic events like plays, musicals concerts and pictorial exhibitions can be seen.

Baron Pier: Situated at the intersection of Errazuriz, Argentina and España Avenues.

This is one of the most beautiful places in Valparaíso. It was built at the beginning of the 1920´s decade. In the Pier historic monuments like old sheds of train “Maestranza” and the old “Tornameza” of the railroad in “Barón” Station can be found. Nowadays, the station has been rebuilt and the area declared as “Typical Zone”.

O’Higgins Square: In Valparaíso O’Higgins Square is one of the most important places to rest and meet. From it you can access the National Congress and the Municipal Theatre. This square has wide green areas and footpaths.

During the week different activities occur, but the most important is on Sunday, the antiques fair “La Merced”. Here you can buy books, old objects, and many different things. This square was inaugurated on February 12th 1966.

The square bears its name for the independence hero Bernardo O’Higgins and has a monument dedicated to him.

Victoria Square: The name of this square first was “Orrego”, but later named Victoria, after the victory of Yungay battle in 1839.

In the XVIII century, this area was a beach, later when the bullfights were very popular, it changed into a Bullring. Finally, when these practices were prohibited, people continued meeting in this place, and with years the square took an important roll as a social centre.

Financial District

This area is from Victoria Square to “Sotomayor” Square. The main streets are; “Esmeralda, Prat and Condell”.

It has a commercial zone, with interesting places and the most important are:

Anibal Pinto Square: It was declared typical zone and protected in 1976, surrounded by big and historic buildings. This is one of the down towns in the city.

One of the main attractions in the square is the Neptune Fountain “Fuente Neptuno” it was set there in 1892.

From this square you can go to the touristic “Alegre” Hill or to old buildings such as The Life Cooperative and Cinzano Café.

Turri Clock Building: Located at the conjunction of Esmeralda, Lord Cochrane, Prat and Gómez Carreño Streets.

The “Turri” clock was built in 1929. The first name was “Kings Cross”, because in that place Mr. Gaspar de Reyes had his storerooms. Later on a storm razed the construction and many people died, in their memories a cross that was called “Kings Cross” was set up. It is an old building down town at the Port that has a clock at the top of it and can be seen from everywhere in the city.

Lyon Palace: This Palace was built in 1881 by Carlos Von Molke. The first owner was Carlos Lyon. It has an important historic value for its classic style and has more than 50 rooms with baroque tendencies. In the first floor is located The Museum of Natural History and in the basement is the Municipal Art Gallery.

Building of the Newspaper “El Mercurio de Valparaiso”: "El Mercurio" Newspaper has been here since 1901, it was the first newspaper in Spanish language. Nowadays, the newspaper is placed in 1002 "Esmeralda" Street.

Hammersley Optic: It is one of the oldest optics in the country. It was settled in Valparaíso more than 100 years ago and in 1976 it was declared Historic Monument.

At the beginning this building was called “Modern Optic”, but with the death of the owner Roberto Hammersley, his widow Emma Hempel, leaved the property to her two sons, who finally called the optic as "Hammersley Optic".

Port District

It has an important historical and cultural value, the area from “Sotomayor” Square to “Aduana” Square has been called Humanity Heritage Place (“Patrimonio de la Humanidad”) by UNESCO. This traditional area of the city was the place were the first houses, shops, churches and the Port was built.

Sotomayor Square: This is the heart of the city. This square is surrounded by the former Government House “Intendencia”, now used as the Regional Naval Headquarters, the Firemen’s General Command, and the National Council of Culture and Arts. Opposite is the monument to the Heroes of Iquique Naval Comb that is commemorate on May 21st.

Echaurren Square: This square was named after the Intendant Francisco Echaurren, it has an historic and cultural value.

Prat Pier: The buildings of “La Capitanía de Puerto” and “Aduana” (Custom House) form he entrance to the Pier.

It is an important touristic area were visitors can enjoy during day and night ship movements and marine activities. Launches run trips around harbor from “Muelle Prat”, to “Playa Las Torpederas” and to Viña del Mar, other boats are hire for fishing.

There are handicraft shops and the restaurant "Bote Salvavidas". At the Pier there is a copy of Caravel “Santiaguillo”, a ship that traveled from “El Callao” to supply Diego de Almagro’s expedition.

The Port: It is the main attraction in Valparaiso located in front of “Prat” Pier.

It was built over a stones and sand hill with concrete. There is a dam, the function of this is repairs and gives service to the ships.

Port Market: This famous Market is located between "Blanco" and "Cochrane" Street, near the “ex Aduana” Building and next to the “Echaurren” Square. Here you can find vegetables, fruits and small restaurants called “Cocinerías” with delicious seafood.

The “Matriz del Salvador” Church: Located between “Matriz” and “Santo Domingo” Streets. Its was the first church in the city.

The first stone was put in 1559, when the ships arrived next to the church. Then the area was earned to the sea and finally it ended being in the middle of the city surrounded by small streets. It receives a big affluence of tourists for its historical interest. The church was built five times, always in the same place, it survived the sequences of pirates, tempests and earthquakes. The last reconstruction was in 1837. In the church is the “Cristo de la Agonía” (Christ of Agony). In 1971 it was declared historical monument and now it is part of the Humanity Heritage Area.

"Playa Ancha" Area

This area includes the hills and hillsides. It is a wide hill, and people use to call it Independent Republic of "Playa Ancha". It has shops, banks, squares, wide streets and a University.

The “Torpederas” Beach It is a picturesque bathing beach. At the beginning it was a cove used only by the “Changos”, years later Valparaiso’s citizen started coming to the cove. In the XIX century a big shed to keep the boats was built. The beach activity increase and restaurants, toilets, and other services that gave value to the beach were built.

University of Valparaíso:The University of Valparaíso was created after 1981. Initially it had three Faculties: Architecture, Medicine and Law. Nowadays, the University has expanded and extended in surface, creating new academic areas and sports dependences.

Municipal Stadium: Inaugurated on December 25th 1931 in “Playa Ancha” Hill between UPLA and Navy School. It has a capacity for fourteen thousand seating persons and twenty thousand people using the whole enclosure. The Team that plays as local is “Santiago Wanderers”, the oldest team in the country.

Membrillo Cove: The cove has an important Port activity. With country houses and restaurants. In June it recovers importance at Saint Peter´s Procession and also in September for “The Fishermen Bonfire”.

Naval and Maritime Museum: The Museum is near “Paseo 21 de Mayo”, were The Navy School was between 1893 and 1967. This museum is divided in four different periods: Wars of Independence, War against the Peru-Bolivia Confederation, War against Spain and The Pacific War. In the second floor there are six thematic rooms for marines of the XX century.