· Tourism in Valparaiso, a touristic city with great hotels, restaurants and beaches - Includes information and hotels booking of Valparaiso, Chile ·

Tourism in Valparaiso city

Distance:
Valparaiso - 120 Kilometers away from Santiago
Valparaiso - 406 Kilometers away from Mendoza, Argentina

Main Activity: Tourism and Commerce

Valparaiso is located across from the bay called Quintil by the changos that inhabited the coast. It was seized in 1536 and baptized Valparaiso by Juan de Saavedra in hommage to his natal city in Spain.

Valparaiso turned into a key point of the sea routes that came from the Atlantic Ocean through the cape Hornos to the coasts and islands of the Pacific.

Valparaiso served as a part for landing and supply. In its wavehouses they stored the merchandise that was to be taken to the parts of the Pacific and Oceanian.

English immigrants, as well a french and germans settled down in Valparaiso and managed the import commerce.

Valparaiso turned into the main commercial and financial center of Chile. It was the pionner in urban development in the country. In the city lived the pioneers of the new economical class that emerged from the mining in the north

This boom came to its end between 1914 and 1930; the building of the Panama cannal changed Valparaiso from passing port to terminal part of the sea routes.

The first most important port of Chile. The commercial district is concentrated in the zone near the bay, while the residential quarters are located on the steeped hills that surround the city.

Valparaiso is, nowadays, commercial and administrative center of the V Region of Chile and workplace of Viña del Mar, Reñaca, Concón and the island cities of Quilpe, Villa Alemana and Peñablanca. It is also seat of the National Congress and an important university center.

It is also the seat of the legislative power. Its streets are characterized for a mixture of ancient buildings with others of modern architecture.

The city suffered tremendous damage during the 1.906, 1.907 and 1.971 earthquakes.

The city blends the future with the part. In the shape of an amphitheater, it is embedded in a ample bay surrounded by high mountains through which the streets, passages and walkways go up to the top.

Between the foot of the mountain and the sea lays the "plan" of Valparaiso with the commerce, the financial center, offices and old houses.

Valparaiso, a touristic city. It has great hotels, restaurants and beaches.

Among the most important beaches outstand: Las Docas beaches, Laguna Verde, The Torpederos, San Mateo, Portales, Caletas, El Membrillo, Los Cerros, Playa Ancha and Santo Domingo.

Elevators of: Artillería, Polanco, Turri, Cordillera, Larraín, Las Monjas, Florida, El Peral, Concepción, Barón and Las Cañas.

It´s also interesting to visit: The Torre del Reloj (The Clock Tower), the Estación Barón (The Baron Station), Valparaiso Customs. The Past Intendancy of Valparaiso. The Building of the Bolsa de Comercio. The Reloj Turri (The Turri Clock), the Navy Club, The Mercury of Valparaiso Daily Journal. "La Sebastiana" Pablo Neruda´s House.

City Tour around Valparaiso:

· Ciudad de Valparaíso - Centro
· Ciudad de Valparaíso - Norte
· Ciudad de Valparaíso - Sur

Tour Site Attractions:

· The Churches of Santo Domingo and Sagrados Corazones
· The Cathedral and of the Padres Franceses and Jesuitas
· The Navy Academy and the Navy and Marine Museums
· The Catholic University of Valparaiso (1928)
· Federico Santa Maria Technological University
· The Municipal Art Gallery
· Municipal Museum of Fine Arts
· The Open Pit Museum and the Museum of Natural History
· Sotomayor, Aníbal Pinto, Bismarck, Simón Bolivar and O´Higgins, Squares
· The Coastline boulevards of Juan de Saavedra and Altamirano Avenue