Take a trip to Valparaiso on your Chile vacation.
Located in central Chile northwest of the capital, Valparaiso is one of the country’s most important sea ports as well as a hub of Chilean culture to be experienced on Chile vacation.
Valparaiso served as the first major port of call for ships coming around Cape Horn. As a result, it became a vital commercial centre for the Pacific coast. When Chilean independence was achieved in 1818, Valparaiso’s population was only around 5,000 people, however, the California gold rush prompted great interest in Chilean wheat. This resulted in a great deal of immigration and the population boomed to 55,000. Popular with European immigrants, Valparaiso’s golden age (1848-1914) witnessed many arriving from Britain, Germany and Italy, all of whom left their mark on the city.
Valparaiso has been built upon steep hillsides that overlook the Pacific Ocean. The unique architecture found in the city has resulted in the nickname “The Jewel of the Pacific” as well as a UNESCO World Heritage listing in 2003. Visitors on Chile vacations can experience the city by using ascensores (funicular elevators) that leave from the flat city centre and travel up to a completely different city above.
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