La Serena is a Chilean city and commune in Elqui Province and capital of the Coquimbo Region. Founded in 1544, it is the country's third oldest city after Santiago and Arica. It is located 471 km north of Santiago, and has a communal population of 190,716 (2006 projection, and 400,000 the Greater La Serena)area, the country's fourth largest conurbation (pop. 300,000, 2002 census), which includes nearby Coquimbo. and an area of 1,892.80 km². It is one of the fastest-growing areas of Chile, witnessing a population increase of 32.6% between 1992 and 2002.
It was first founded by the German Captain Juan Bohón, in service to the Spanish crown, in September 4, 1544 on the orders of Pedro de Valdivia in order to provide a sea link between Santiago and Lima. In 1549 the town was totally destroyed by local Indians and re-founded the same year by Captain Francisco de Aguirre in a safer location. The town has retained its historic architecture and this, along with a selection of beaches (known as Avenida del Mar, "Sea Avenue"), has caused the city to become a significant tourist centre, attracting many foreigners (most of them Argentines from San Juan and Mendoza provinces) during January, and later Santiago residents fleeing February heat.
View of center of city.
Its traditional architecture consists of a series of housing and public buildings, of late 19th-century vintage, built with wood from the US state of Oregon brought to Chile as counterweight in sailing vessels coming to Coquimbo, the nearby port, to load copper and other minerals for transport back to the US. This Oregon pine and the use of adobe create the genuine image of
PLACE TO VISIT
In the Archeologigal Museum there is the only rapa nui moai head to have toured Europe. Entry CLP$600.
The nearby observatory is also open to the public.
Church Cathedral of La Serena (Historical Monument from 1981) Construction initiated by the French architect Jean Herbage, the year 1844, and dedicated in 1856. It is the biggest temple of the city, constructed in neoclassic style, measures 60 meters of extension per 20 meters of width, with 3 central bodies. Inside one finds the organ donated by the philantropist calm down Juana Ross de Edwards. The belfry dates back from the 20th century.
The beaches of the Avenida Del Mar shape one of the most crowded walks of La Serena, joining El Faro Monumental, in south direction with an extension of 6 km and adjacent with Peñuelas's beach (Coquimbo). Even with this, it is necessary to mention that the beaches of La Serena are for strolling,and not for swimming,as there are under tows and strong currents. In comparison Coquimbo's beaches like that of The Horse-shoe are very top in the calmness of his waters and in the clean of his sands.
If you are around in early Spring you might be lucky enough to see the desert in bloom. It happens in occasional years and is stunning.
WHAT TO DO
The japnese style (indeed, laid out by a Tokyo landscape architect) garden Jardin del Corazon is just west of the center. It celebrates the 450th anniversary of La Serena, its ties with its Japanese friend Tenri and the export of Chilean ore to Japan. Plenty of ducks and geese in the pond, some fish and the odd turtle. Entry CH$600.
Beaches - La Serena has some of the country's longest stretches of beach. You can take a whole day walking from one end to another.
Observatory tours. The Elqui Valley outside La Serena has some of the best conditions for observing the sky, hence the many observatories, some open to the public doing tours from La Serena city at night.
There is a cinema at the Mall Plaza, by the bus terminal
HOW TO REACH
By bus - Buses leave several times every hour from Santiago de Chile to La Serena. The trip takes 7 - 8 hours. Companies include Pullman Bus, TurBus and Flota Barrios. Available are regular buses, semi-cama and the first class salon-cama. Prices vary greatly.
By air - LAN flies three times daily from Santiago de Chile to La Serena at 10:50, 14:00 and 19:00. Flight duration is 1 hour and fully flexible ticket cost $168 US one way, $305 return; advance non-flexible return tickets through the website may be much cheaper than the flexible one way price.
