WHERE TO GO IN VIñA DEL MAR AND VALPARAíSO
Valparaíso:
Cerro Barón: (Baron Hill)
In this hill you can find the famous church of San Francisco, reason to why Valparaiso was also known as "Pancho." It also has the Baron elevator and a fort whcih was built to protect the city from attacks by pirates. It was an area of Italian immigrants who came to establish their businesses in this place.
Cerro Concepción: (Concepcion Hill)
This hill has a historical and mythological past. In its territory the Fort La Concepción was installed to defend the city from attacks by pirates, and on its slopes the "Cueva del Chivato " was believed to be found which was a cave where a human being in the shape of a goat which was believed to be the devil lived, terrorizing the population in those days.
It was the place of establishment of the German colony when it arrived to the port. They designed a plot with beautiful gardens, panoramic viewpoints towards the bay and elegant mansions. It also has the trips of Atkinson and Gervasoni, and the churches Anglica Saint Paul and the Lutheran Church of Valparaiso. It also has two lifts, the Concepcion and the Reina Victoria (Queen Victoria).
Because of the beauty of its buildings and tours, there are currently many restaurants and hotels in place.
Cerro Alegre: (Alegre Hill)
It neighbors Cerro Concepción and was the area where the British immigrants who came to Valparaiso settled. It was named after the colorful gardens that adorned their homes.
Among its attractions are the Paseo Yugoslavo, the Palace Baburizza which currently corresponds to the Museum of Fine Arts and the El Peral lift.
Plaza Victoria: (Victoria Square)
It is located in the downtown of Valparaiso and has attractions such as a wrought iron fountain brought from France. It also has beautiful gardens and other sculptures. Exhibitions and street performers are also a big part of this place.
Plaza Aníbal Pinto: (Anibal Pinto Square)
It is considered a Typical Area of Valparaiso by the National Monuments Council and brings together traditional buildings in its narrow streets. It has a fountain known as the Fountain of Neptune, which is the point of ascent to the hills Alegre and Concepcion.
Paseo 21 de Mayo:
It is one of the most beautiful vantage points of the city, and accessed through the Artillería lift. It is the favorite place of the locals and visitors to watch the New Year show in the Sea which is held every year in front of the bay.
Muelle Prat: (Prat Pier)
It is opposite the Port Authority and the tower of the Superintendent of Customs. From here you can see all the economic activity of the port, which stretches 1,000 meters in length and has spaces protected for boats if there is bad weather.
Plaza Sotomayor: (Sotomayor Square)
It is also considered a Typical Area of Protection of Valparaiso and is located opposite Muelle Prat and Estación Puerto de Ferrocarriles. It features the Monument to the Heroes of Iquique, known as the Monumento a la Marina Nacional (National Marine Monument). In its surroundings we find the First Naval Zone, the Fire Company, Correos de Chile, Puerto de Ferrocarriles del Estado, Capitanía de Puerto y Aduana (Customs and Port Captain).
Paseo Muelle Barón:
In this area the port and the city join together and allow you to see a panoramic view of Valparaiso, its buildings and its bay.
Museo de Historia Natural: (Museum of Natural History)
It has an interesting collection of more than 100,000 pieces, organized in Natural Sciences, Archaeology, Heritage and Libraries. It can be visited from Monday to Sunday.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Valparaíso: (Museum of Fine Arts of Valparaiso)
It is located in the Paseo Yugoslavo del Cerro Alegre aand it is considered a National Monument. It has collections of paintings of Chilean and European exponents. It is located in the Baburizza Palace.
Iglesia Catedral de Valparaíso: (Cathedral of Valparaiso)
This Gothic style building with several religious images is one of the most important churches in the city. It has been repaired several times (having suffered from several earthquakes), which come close to the original structure.
Iglesia de San Francisco: (Church of San Francisco)
t is an icon of the port of Valparaiso, located on Baron Hill. Its tower was seen by sailors who came to the bay and gave the city the name "Pancho". It is believed that this also happened because of the climate similarity between the city of San Francisco in the United States and Valparaiso
It is currently under reconstruction.
Laguna Verde: (Verde Lagoon)
It is a beautiful beach located in the Quebrada Verde Road, where there are services for tourists and restaurants to enjoy the cuisine of the area.
Congreso Nacional: (National Congress)
This building is located in the neighborhood of El Almendral and is the seat of the legislative power in Chile, consisting of a Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. It was opened in 1990 and has a modern and functional architectural design.
Viña del Mar:
Avenida Perú: (Peru Avenue)
It is a beautiful waterfront that runs throughout the city, and connects the beaches Acapulco and Estero.
Quinta Vergara:
It has beautiful gardens as well as home to the Museum of Fine Arts and the stage of the Festival de Viña del Mar, which is held every year in February.
Palacio Rioja: (Rioja Palace)
This National Monument is a beautiful French-style mansion that currently serves as an Environmental Museum. It features an outdoor theater, tennis courts, parks, a swimming pool and stables.
Casino Municipal:
It is a building built in an art deco style, with arcades, restaurants and entertainment.
Reñaca:
It is one of the most famous beaches of Viña del Mar. It is a popular meeting place with vibrant nightlife and counts with bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Also here you can enjoy the fireworks show that takes place in Valparaiso for the New Year.
Cochoa:
It is a quieter area located 3 kilometers north of Reñaca. Here you can enjoy the seafood and family-style beach with calm waters.
Concón:
nown as the "Gourmet Capital of Chile", because of the many restaurants located on the coastal edge of the zone. It is located 17 kilometers north of Viña del Mar which can be travelled through a nice waterfront road where you can also go biking, hiking, running, among other things.
In addition to the beautiful beaches: Amarilla, Negra and La Boca, it features natural surrounding areas such as the Santuario de la Naturaleza Dunas de Concón and the Humedal del Río Aconcagua, where you can observe native flora and fauna of the region.
Another attraction is the Roca Oceánica, a natural viewpoint where you can observe the ocean and enjoy beautiful sunsets.
Mirador de los Lobos Marinos:
From this viewpoint you can see the sea lions that inhabit the area.
Museo de la Cultura del Mar:
It is known as the Castillo Wulff, a house of 2 floors with a tower, which offers a collection of maritime items such as rudders and more.