Valparaíso ( Spanish: [balpaɾaˈiso] ) is a major city, commune , seaport and naval base facility in Valparaíso Region , Chile .
58-607: Greater Valparaíso is the second-largest populace in the country, as well as the second-largest city in the Greater Valparaíso metro area (behind Viña del Mar ). Valparaíso was named originally for Valparaíso de Arriba , in Castile-La Mancha , Spain . It is located about 120 km (75 mi) northwest of Santiago , by road, and is one of the Pacific Ocean 's most important seaports. Valparaíso
116-402: A colorful port city. In becoming a World Heritage Center, Valparaíso is tasked with maintaining its cultural heritage, through the maintenance of its historic infrastructure, like its Ascensores . On 13 April 2014, a huge brush fire burned out of control, destroying 2,800 homes and killing 16 people, forcing President Michelle Bachelet to declare it a disaster zone. In early February 2024,
174-472: A few houses and a church. On some occasions she was attacked by English pirates and privateers, such as Francis Drake with his ship Golden Hind in 1578 and later his cousin Richard Hawkins with his ship Dainty in 1594. Drake's sack of Valparaíso gave origin to the legend about Cueva del Pirata . In 1810, a wealthy merchant built the first pier in the history of Chile and the first during
232-428: A huge brush fire burned through Valparaiso and central Chile, killing at least 131 people. Valparaíso is located in central Chile, 120 km (75 mi) to the north west of the capital Santiago . Valparaíso, like most of Chile, is vulnerable to earthquakes. Before the earthquake of February 27, 2010 , which measured 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale , the last catastrophic earthquake to strike Valparaíso devastated
290-669: A long stretch of the Pacific coast from southern Peru to north-central Chile , including the coast of the Atacama Desert . Although much of the customs and culture of the Chango people have disappeared and in many cases they have been considered extinct, in Chile they are legally recognized as an original indigenous people since 2020, and about 4,725 people self-declare that they belong to this ethnic group. The culture originated in
348-528: A major educational and entertainment hub, with four large traditional universities , and several large vocational colleges . While the city is well-known for its artisans and bohemian culture , it is also famous as the home of several highly-regarded music festivals and other artistic events. The largest, and arguably most iconic, is the annual Viña Del Mar International Song Festival (often simply called "Viña" or "Viña Del Mar"). Typically held in March, in
406-609: A meteor trail was visible from Quillota to Valparaíso, seen as a religious experience for much of the population. In 1826, the Royal Navy Great Britain established a South America Station in Valparaíso to maintain British naval interest in the region. It would remain until 1837, when it was relocated to Esquimalt, British Columbia . 12 September 1827 saw the establishment of El Mercurio de Valparaíso ,
464-406: A recently-refurbished, 40,000-capacity amphitheater , "Viña" is one of the biggest annual economic boosts to the region, as the event usually sells-out completely, and thousands of attendees and workers will travel to and stay in the city and metro area. In addition to showcasing numerous performers of many styles, and awarding various prizes, the internationally-televised and live-streamed festival
522-444: A serious blow to the region's shipping- and port-based economy. By the 21st century, the port of San Antonio had surpassed Valparaíso in trade volume ( TEU ) handled, leading to the questioning of its traditional moniker of Puerto Principal ("principal port") of Chile. Between the years of 2000 to 2015, the city experienced a recovery, attracting artists, tourists, and cultural entrepreneurs, who settled after they were attracted by
580-574: A similar way of life rather than a common history or ethnicity. Chango culture developed adjacent to neighbouring cultures such as the Atacameños . Chango culture is part of the Chinchorro tradition . The Chinchorro were hunter-fisher-gatherers with a particular reliance on the sea, who lived along the Atacama Desert coast from at least the 8th century BC. They are of special interest to modern anthropologists due to their practice of mummifying
638-563: A survivor of this attack, would retire to Portersville, Indiana , and request changing the name to Valparaiso , commemorating the only naval battle he ever lost. By 2 August 1820, the Liberating Expedition of Peru sailed from Valparaíso. At 10:30 pm on the evening of 19 November 1822, Valparaíso experienced a violent earthquake that left the city in ruins; of the 16,000 residents, casualties included at least 66 adults and 12 children, as well as 110 people wounded. The next day,
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#1732772000773696-471: A tense situation that led to serious violence on 12 May. There were protests and the burning of the CSAV offices and several people were shot and killed. All this prompted intervention by the state. This protest was important for the future of Trade Unionism in the country. That same year, electric trams were introduced. The 1906 Valparaíso earthquake caused severe damage throughout the city on 16 August, which
754-491: A total of 287, anchored in its port. The British settled on Cerro Alegre (Mount Pleasant) and Cerro Concepción. The Association of Voluntary Firemen was created in 1851, a telegraph service to Santiago was operating by 1852, and Chile's first telephone service was set up in 1880. The British Hospital was founded in 1897, and the British Arch, Arco Británico , was erected in 1911. However, by 1895, Italian immigrants exceeded
812-509: A violent earthquake. Valparaíso has a very mild Mediterranean climate ( Köppen Csb ). The summer is essentially dry, but the city is affected by fogs from the Humboldt Current during most of the year. In the winter, rainfall can occasionally be extremely heavy when a powerful frontal system crosses central Chile, but frequency of such rains varies greatly from year to year. Monthly average temperatures vary just around 6°C between
870-600: Is 979,127 at the 2012 census, with an area of 401.6 square kilometers. The agglomeration is composed of several communes ( Spanish : comunas ), and each is governed by its respective municipality : These communes have the following characteristics: Gran Valparaíso also has the third largest concentration of universities in Chile. Besides the Traditional Universities , it has several private institutions, including Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez , Universidad Andrés Bello , and Universidad del Mar . There
928-492: Is a rapid transit light rail system which serves most of the communes in the conurbation: The Valparaíso Metro . Bus routes almost always span multiple communes and are organized via the Transporte Metropolitano de Valparaíso [ es ] . The area is a major tourist draw due to the internationally important Viña del Mar International Song Festival , its balnearios (beaches and resorts), and
986-562: Is also an important hub for container freight and exports many products, including wine, copper, and fresh fruit. Greater Valpara%C3%ADso Greater Valparaíso ( Gran Valparaíso ) is the third largest metropolitan area in Chile , after the Greater Concepción and Greater Santiago . It takes this name after the city of Valparaíso , the oldest city of the group and the most important harbour in Chile. Its total population
1044-646: Is lacking. Chango communities were organised into either nomadic or sedentary groups based on nuclear family units. Each group was independent of the others, providing food and other resources for itself. The Changos were experts at exploiting the resources of the sea. Each group specialised in a particular type of fish, including tuna , conger eels , mullet , dart fish , mackerel and octopus . Rafts used for fishing developed from primitive reed constructions to craft made from three wooden planks, and later to seal skins fastened to wooden frames. Fish were caught using nets, hooks and harpoons . The capture of seals
1102-590: Is the capital of Chile's second most-populated administrative region and has been the Chilean Navy headquarters since 1817, as well as being the seat of the Chilean National Congress (since 1990). Valparaíso played an important geopolitical role in the second half of the 19th century when it served as a major stopover for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via
1160-535: Is typically headlined by superstar musicians, from both the Spanish- and English -speaking worlds. Some older works starting with Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna (1869) claim that Valparaíso was within the range of the Chango people , but clear evidence for this is lacking. The Bay of Valparaíso's first ethnically identifiable population were Picunche natives, known for their agriculture. Spanish explorers, considered
1218-487: The Dissidents' Cemetery . Football (soccer) was introduced to Chile by English immigrants ; and the first private Catholic school in Chile, Le Collège des Sacrés Cœurs ("Sacred Hearts College") and its accompanying Sacred Hearts Church , by French immigrants . Immigrants from Scotland and Germany founded the first private secular schools ( The Mackay School and Die Deutsche Schule , respectively). Immigrants formed
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#17327720007731276-693: The Greater Valparaíso metropolitan area, including the neighbouring cities of Viña del Mar , Concón , Quilpué and Villa Alemana , is the second largest in the country (951,311 inhabitants). According to the 2017 census of the National Statistics Institute , the commune of Valparaíso spans an area of 401.6 km (155 sq mi) and has 296,655 inhabitants (144,945 men and 151,710 women). Of these, 295,918 (99.8%) lived in urban areas and 737 (0.2%) in rural areas . The population grew by 7.49% (20,673 persons) between
1334-564: The Peru-Bolivian Confederation , considered a turning point of Chilean public opinion and the purpose of the war. By 1851, the first fire brigade in the country was formed. The next year potable running water became available, as well as the first telegraph service in Latin America, between the city and Santiago . It would be another four years before streetlights, with 700 gas lanterns, were installed. In 1861
1392-514: The Senate , the commune is represented by Francisco Chahuán ( RN ), Kenneth Pugh ( RN ), Isabel Allende (PS), Juan Latorre (FA), and Ricardo Lagos Weber ( PPD ) for the 2018–2026 term, as part of the 6th senatorial constituency (Valparaíso Region). The Chilean Congress meets in a modern building in the Almendral section of Valparaíso, after relocation from Santiago during the last years of
1450-635: The Straits of Magellan and Cape Horn . It gained particular importance supporting and supplying the California Gold Rush (1848–1858). As a major seaport, Valparaíso received immigrants from many European countries, mainly from Britain , Germany , France , Switzerland and Italy . German, French, Italian and English were commonly spoken among its citizens, who founded and published newspapers in these languages. Valparaíso found maritime competition with Callao (Perú). Both cities sought to be
1508-461: The Straits of Magellan . The area experienced rapid growth during its golden age as a magnet for European immigrants, when the city was known by international sailors as "Little San Francisco " and "jewel of the Pacific ". Notable acquisitions from this golden age include Latin America 's oldest stock exchange , the continent's first volunteer fire department , Chile's first public library , and
1566-407: The 2002 and 2017 censuses. Residents of Valparaíso are commonly called porteños (feminine: porteñas ), spanish for "port dweller". As a commune, Valparaíso is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council , headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. Since 14 November 2024, the mayor's position has been vacant. For the 2021–2024 term,
1624-418: The 8,000-year-old Chinchorro tradition . Due to a combination of conquest and integration into other cultures and ethnicities, the Chango culture is now considered extinct. However, in Chile they are legally recognized as an original indigenous people since 2020, and about 4,725 people self-declare that they belong to this ethnic group. [1] The Changos were not a distinct tribe or ethnic group ; rather,
1682-512: The British, and both the Italians and Germans were in larger numbers by 1907. By 1920, both the Italians and Spanish outnumbered the British, and the primary British community within Chile resided in Santiago. International immigration transformed the local culture from Spanish origins and Amerindian origins, in ways that included the construction of the first non-Catholic cemetery of Chile ,
1740-689: The Hospital Carlos Van Buren in 1912. The golden age of Valparaíso's commerce ended after the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. Shipping shifted to the canal as captains sought to avoid the risks of the Strait of Magellan. The port's use and traffic declined significantly, causing a decline in the city's economy. The opening of the Panama Canal was one of the most critical events in the shaping of Valparaío's economy. Since
1798-921: The National Customs Service, the National Fish and Aquaculture Ministry, the Ministry of Culture and the Barracks General of the Chilean Navy are sited in the city. In addition to the capital of the Valparaíso Region hosts the Regional Administration and government. In 2003, Valparaíso became an UNESCO World Heritage Centre . This title was awarded to Valparaiso for its unique urban form, as well as its clear maintained historical background as
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1856-809: The National Steamship Company and Chilean Steamship Company, the South American Steamship Company was created as a national response to the increasing dominance of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company in 1872. In 1880 the Chilean Telephone Company was formed by Americans Joseph Husbands, Peter MacKellar, James Martin, and the US consul Lucius Foot, the first official telephone company in the country. Three years later on
1914-556: The Pacific Ocean, Valparaíso has a labyrinth of streets and cobblestone alleyways, embodying a rich architectural and cultural legacy. Valparaíso is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Since its status as a World Heritage Site, Valparaíso has made several changes to its urban fabric in the process of maintaining its cultural heritage. Landmarks include: Although technically only Chile's sixth largest city, with an urban area population of 295,918 (296,655 in municipality),
1972-907: The Seafarers. Fire of the South American Company. Assault on the printing press of El Mercurio . Fire of the Malecon. Attitude of the Authority. The troops arrived from Santiago. The calm is restored. Meetings in the Municipality. It reaches an Arrangement. The Court of Appeals. The city in State of Siege. The twentieth century began with the first big protest of dockworkers, Chile on 15 April 1903, due to complaints by dockers about their excessive working hours and demands for higher wages, requests that were ignored by employers, creating
2030-548: The World Monuments Fund declared Valparaíso's unusual system of funicular lifts (steeply inclined carriages) one of the world's 100 most endangered historical treasures. In 1998, grassroots activists convinced the Chilean government and local authorities to apply for UNESCO world heritage status for Valparaíso. Valparaíso was declared a World Heritage Site in 2003. Built upon dozens of steep hillsides overlooking
2088-473: The city (Pedro Montt) was laid and Plaza O'Higgins was created; a hill was removed to allow the passage of Colon Street. The damaged Edwards mansion was demolished and in its place, the present Cathedral of Valparaíso was built and, among many other works, this gave shape to the Almendral Valparaíso area. In 1910, the port expansion work of the city, which ended in 1930, began. A long breakwater
2146-515: The city in August 1906 , killing nearly 3,000 people. Other significant earthquakes to affect the city were the 1730 Valparaíso earthquake and the 1985 Algarrobo earthquake . Because of Valparaíso's proximity to the Peru–Chile Trench , the city is vulnerable to earthquakes. The Peru–Chile Trench stores large amounts of energy for a very long time and sometimes ruptures after short intervals in
2204-541: The city's hillside historic districts. Today, many thousands of people visit Valparaíso each month, from Chile and abroad, to enjoy the city's labyrinth of cobbled alleys and colorful buildings. The Port of Valparaíso still continues to be a major distribution center for container traffic, copper , and fruit exports. It also receives growing attention from cruise ships that visit during the South American summer. Most significantly, Valparaíso has transformed itself into
2262-401: The colonial era. In its place today, stands the building of El Mercurio de Valparaíso. The ocean then rose to this point. Reclamation of land from the sea moved the coastline five blocks away. Between 1810 and 1830, he built much of the existing port of the city, including much of the land reclamation work that now comprises the city's commercial centre. In 1814, the naval Battle of Valparaíso
2320-629: The communal council has the following members: Within the electoral divisions of Chile , Valparaíso is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Andrés Celis ( RN ), Hotuiti Teao (Ind./ EVOP ), Luis Sánchez ( REP ), Tomás Lagomarsino (PR), Tomás de Rementería (PS), Camila Rojas (FA), Jorge Brito (FA), and Luis Cuello (PCCh) for the 2022–2026 term, as part of the 7th electoral district, together with Juan Fernández , Isla de Pascua , Viña del Mar , Concón , Algarrobo , Cartagena , Casablanca , El Quisco , El Tabo , San Antonio , and Santo Domingo . In
2378-569: The coolest and the warmest month, from 17 °C (63 °F) in January to 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) in July. Snowfall occurs rarely in the highest parts of the city. In winter, strong winds can lead to wind chill temperatures below freezing. Nicknamed "The Jewel of the Pacific", Valparaíso was declared a world heritage site based upon its improvised urban design and unique architecture. In 1996,
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2436-572: The dead. Changos around Paposo appear by 1870 to have spoken a dialect of Mapudungun , the language of the Mapuche people of south-central Chile. In the coast of Antofagasta Region there are toponyms near the coast claimed to be Mapuche including Taltal and Quebrada Mamilla . Some older works starting with Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna (1869) claim the Changos people extended once as far south as Valparaíso (33° S), but clear evidence for this
2494-447: The dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet . Although congressional activities were to be legally moved by a ruling in 1987, the newly built site only began to function as the seat of Congress during the government of Patricio Aylwin in 1990. Major industries include tourism, culture, shipping and freight transport. Approximately 50 international cruise ships call on Valparaíso during the 4-month Chilean summer. The port of Valparaíso
2552-550: The dominant port on the Pacific Coast of South America during the period of time known as the High Trade (1880–1930). The British community , La Colonia Britanica , prospered in Valparaíso between the 1820s and 1920s. Firms such as Antony Gibbs & Sons , Duncan Fox, and Williamson-Balfour Company were doing business in the town, which had become a significant trading center by 1840, with 166 British ships, out of
2610-540: The first European discoverers of Chile, arrived in 1536, aboard the Santiaguillo , a supply ship sent by Diego de Almagro . The Santiaguillo carried men and supplies for Almagro's expedition, under the command of Juan de Saavedra , who named the town after his native village of Valparaíso de Arriba in Cuenca Province , Spain. During Spanish colonial times, Valparaíso remained a small village, with only
2668-565: The first of December, Concepción funicular opened, the first of many hydraulic systems. After the country's independence and its consequent openness to international trade, Valparaíso became an important port of call on trade routes through the Eastern Pacific. Many immigrants settled there, mostly from Europe and North America, who helped include Valparaíso and Chile in the Industrial Revolution sweeping other parts of
2726-596: The first tram company was formed, mostly using horses or mules to draw them, and fully established over the next few years. In 1852, British shipping company Williamson, Balfour & Cía was established in Valparaíso to handle trade in the region. Taking advantage of the total lack of defenses, a Spanish fleet commanded by Casto Méndez Núñez bombarded the city during the Chincha Islands War in 1866. Chilean merchant ships were sunk, except for those vessels whose captains hoisted foreign flags. A merger of
2784-502: The first volunteer fire-fighting units (still a volunteer activity in Chile). Their buildings reflected a variety of European styles, making Valparaíso more varied than some other Chilean cities. On 18 August 1906, a major earthquake struck Valparaíso; there was extensive property damage and thousands of deaths. The Chilean doctor, Carlos Van Buren, of U.S. descent, was involved in the medical care of earthquake victims. He later established
2842-399: The oldest Spanish language newspaper in continuous publication in the world, El Mercurio de Valparaíso . In 2003, the historic quarter of Valparaíso was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The twentieth century was unfavorable to Valparaíso, as many wealthy families abandoned the city. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, and the associated reduction in ship traffic, dealt
2900-572: The oldest circulating newspaper in the Spanish language worldwide. In May 1828, a constitutional convention began regular meetings in the church of San Francisco . By August 9, the Constitution of the Republic of Chile was fully drafted and disseminated. On 6 June 1837, Minister Diego Portales was shot at the port outside of Baron Hill on suspicion of promoting conspirators who opposed
2958-485: The term is used to refer to many disparate communities of indigenous people living along the northern Chilean and southern Peruvian coast in the Pre-Columbian era . The term "chango" was first documented in the 17th century by Spanish conquistadors who perceived little in the way of cultural difference between the local native communities. Therefore, "chango" describes a loose grouping of maritime peoples who shared
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#17327720007733016-618: The turn of the 21st century, shipping has increased in the last few decades with fruit exports, opening the Chilean economy to world commerce, and larger-scale, Post-Panamax ships that do not fit the Panama Canal. On 28 March 1814, the USS Essex was defeated by British frigates Phoebe and Cherub during the War of 1812 , leading to the deaths of 58 US Marines. Captain David Porter ,
3074-677: The world's largest pool San Alfonso del Mar in Algarrobo . The Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural significance. 33°02′46″S 71°37′20″W / 33.04611°S 71.62222°W / -33.04611; -71.62222 This Valparaíso Region location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Chango people The Changos , also known as Camanchacos or Camanchangos , are an Indigenous people or group of peoples who inhabited
3132-563: The world. This created a different city with civil, financial, commercial and industrial institutions, many of which still exist today. All this resulted in a population increases. The city reached more than 160,000 inhabitants in the late nineteenth century, making it necessary to use the steep hills for more houses, mansions and even cemeteries. The lack of available land caused the city authorities and developers to reclaim low lying tidal marshland (polders) upon which to build administrative, commercial and industrial infrastructure. The Strike of
3190-419: Was at that time the heart of the Chilean economy. The damage was valued at hundreds of millions of pesos of the time, and human victims were counted at 3,000 dead and over 20,000 injured. After the removal of the debris, reconstruction work began. This included the widening of streets, culverting and covering streams, (Jaime and Delicias – creating the avenues Francia and Argentina respectively). The main street of
3248-750: Was built, along with piers and docking terminals. The Imperial German East Asia Squadron engaged the British West Indies Squadron on 1 November 1914 at the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Valparaiso, sinking two British cruisers. After the battle the East Asia Squadron stayed in Valparaiso Harbor before continuing to the Falklands. Chile's legislature along with other institutions of national importance like
3306-494: Was fought offshore of the town, between American and British ships involved in the War of 1812 . After Chile's independence from Spain (1818), beginning the Republican Era , Valparaíso became the main harbour for the nascent Chilean navy, and opened international trade opportunities that had been formerly limited to Spain and its other colonies. Valparaíso soon became a desired stopover for ships rounding South America via
3364-552: Was of crucial importance to the Chango way of life, with every part of the animal having its uses. The meat, fat and bones were used for food and tools, the skins were used to make rafts and the intestines to make fishing equipment. As well as seal skins, the Changos used vicuña wool , feathers, bird skins, shells and the bones and teeth of sea creatures as materials to make practical and decorative items such as clothing, blankets, tools, cutlery and jewellery. They also made and painted ceramic utensils. Despite their geographical isolation,
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