- La Sebastiana – Pablo Neruda Museum
- A local artist’s studio
DESCRIPTION
Picturesque Valparaiso was one of the first Chilean cities founded by the Spanish in 1536.
A thriving port for centuries, modern Valparaiso remains Chile’s primary outlet to the sea. In 1906, a vicious earthquake struck the city, toppling hundreds of the city's priceless monuments. This earthquake, however, would be a portent of things to come: The truly fatal blow to Valparaiso would come 8 years later. In 1914, the first international ship crossed the Panama Canal. The golden age of Valparaiso had come to an end. After years of gloom and decay, the historic port and university town is now living something of a revival. The Chilean government has pledged both economic and structural support to the city, and private entities are implementing projects that seek to trigger an urban renaissance in Valparaiso as a world heritage city and Chile's cultural capital. Among the priorities are culture, heritage preservation, and economic development via tourism. This effort culminated in UNESCO naming Valparaiso’s Historic Quarter a World Heritage Site in 2003.
Immigrants from all over the world have chosen to stay and leave their mark on this peculiar city.
Since over 450 years, this strategic port in the western coast of the South American continent has been the subject of interest for many renamed visitor. First visited by Drake and later on by Dutch pirates, left in ruins by Spanish cannons’ fire and reconstructed many times after numerous earthquakes, Valparaíso is a handmade city, a result of human intervention and an example of urban resilience.
During your 4-hour tour you will have the chance to see Valparaíso distinctively spontaneous hill neighbourhoods and their vernacular architecture, including more than a dozen ascensores (funicular cable cars) that connect the port with its surrounding heights. This is a great city to explore on foot so that you can grasp its beauty.
One of the highlights of the tour will surely be Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda’s Valparaiso residence, “La Sebastiana”. The house is full to the brim with the eccentric genius’ keepsakes from his many trips abroad, as well as an extensive library.
Also during your visit you will get the opportunity to visit the studio/gallery of a local artist who will be pleased to meet you and sharing with you his passion for art and his life experience in this bohemian city in front of the Pacific Ocean, a constant source of inspiration for many other artists
OBSERVATIONS
- Includes the services of an English-speaking guide.
- Bottled mineral water included.
- Entrance fee to the museums are included.
- Museums are closed on Mondays.
*Travellers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car
