Places of interest
Viña del Mar es considerada la "Capital turística de Chile", es también la ciudad más visitada del litoral central del Mar Chileno, año a año atrae a cientos de miles de turistas cada verano tanto locales como de extranjeros, se estima que entre 1 y 2 millones de turistas llegan cada temporada veraniega a la ciudad y sus alrededores, principalmente vienen a recorrer sus playas, pero también a disfrutar de su variada oferta gastronómica, eventos culturales, eventos deportivos, turismo ecológico y vida nocturna, aunque también se puede conocer el patrimonio histórico de la ciudad, ya que fue también un importante balneario a comienzos del siglo , un ejemplo de ello es el Casino Municipal de Viña del Mar que es un importante centro recreativo y patrimonial de la ciudad.
Beaches of Vina del Mar
Viña del Mar has approximately 15 kilometers of beaches, the busiest are the beaches located in the northern and central sectors of the city, the busiest beaches are Playa El Sol, Playa Acapulco, Playa Caleta Abarca and the beaches of Reñaca and they are home to 5-star hotels, various restaurants, sports activities and boardwalks that run along the entire coastline.
Viña del Mar Municipal Casino
The Municipal Casino of Viña del Mar or also known as Enjoy Viña del Mar, is the most emblematic building in the city, it was inaugurated on December 31, 1930 by President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo with the purpose of promoting recreational activity in the city, in addition to promoting the construction of different works to beautify Viña del Mar due to the exponential growth of tourism that began to take shape since those years. To this day the casino continues to be an important tourist attraction in the commune, it is also the venue for the so-called "Viña del Mar Festival Gala". At the beginning of the year 2000, the Hotel del Mar was built in the back, thus increasing the hotel offer in the region.
Quinta Vergara
Quinta Vergara is the best-known and most visited park in Viña del Mar, it was the place where the house of the founder of Viña del Mar, Don José Francisco Vergara, was located. In 1910, the Vergara Palace was built on the site to replace the old family mansion destroyed in the 1910 earthquake. The Vergara Palace is a Venetian neo-Gothic style building, inspired by the famous Ca' d'Oro in Venice and has rooms adorned with furniture purchased directly from Europe, the palace is currently a Museum of Fine Arts. Quinta Vergara Park also houses exotic plants brought from different parts of the world, especially Asia, Australia and California, and the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater is also located there, which is the venue where the Viña del Mar International Song Festival is held every year.
Rioja Palace
The Rioja Palace is an important heritage mansion in Viña del Mar that also has a park around it, it was built between 1907 and 1910 for the Spanish businessman Fernando Rioja Medel who decided to move his residence from Valparaíso to Viña del Mar after the earthquake of 1906. Its style is French neoclassical, inside there are lounges and furniture in Empire style, there are also works and objects belonging to the Chilean aristocracy of the early 19th century. century, most brought directly from Europe. Since 1979, the Rioja Palace has been the headquarters of the Museum of Decorative Art of Viña del Mar and admission is free.
Carrasco Palace
It is an imposing heritage mansion located on Avenida Libertad in Viña del Mar, it was built between 1912 and 1923 to be the residence of the nitrate businessman Emilio Carrasco. In 1930, the mayor of the city Manuel Ossa bought the building in the name of the Municipality so that it would become the town hall of the commune, a function that would last until 1971, when the municipality changed its town hall headquarters. Since 1977 it has been the headquarters of the Viña del Mar Cultural Center, the municipal library and the Communal Historical Archive. Since 1962, the sculpture The Defense, an original work by Auguste Rodin in 1878, has been located on the front of the palace.
Presidential Palace of Cerro Castillo
It is a building located at the top of Cerro Castillo de Viña del Mar, it is the resting place of the President of the Republic of Chile and an alternative headquarters to the Palacio de la Moneda, it is also the first place where a president goes when he is sworn into office by Congress. It was built in 1930 by President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, the building is neo-colonial style, has extensive gardens and overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Valparaíso Bay. The site opens to the public during "Heritage Day" in the month of May.
Wulff Castle
The Wulff Castle was built in 1905, it was commissioned by the businessman of German origin Gustavo Wulff, who arrived in Chile in 1881, the Castle is located on the edge of the sea, is Franco-German in style and is inspired by an old mansion in Liechtenstein, the building was remodeled in 1910 by the architect Alberto Cruz Montt and in 1920 a circular tower was installed that connects with a bridge to the main building.
In 1946 the building was remodeled again but this time with an English style, in 1995 it was declared a National Monument and since 2005 it has been the headquarters of the Heritage Unit of the Municipality of Viña del Mar.
Valparaiso Avenue
Valparaíso Avenue is an important artery of the city of Viña del Mar, it begins at the intersection of von Schroeders Street, at the foot of Cerro Castillo and ends at Puente Cancha, near Plaza Vergara. The origins of the street date back to 1792 when Governor Ambrosio O'higgins ordered it to be adapted for the passage of carts. Over the years, homes and businesses began to be built on its sides. At the beginning of the century it was called "Commerce Street", however with the founding of Viña del Mar in 1874, the street changed its name to what it currently has, since that was the route used to reach the port of Valparaíso. In 1912 the first paving works were carried out and by mid-century it was transformed into a gastronomic, commerce and entertainment hub.
Brunet Castle
The Brunet Castle was built in 1923, it is located at the top of the Castillo hill "Cerro Castillo (Valparaíso Region)") and was commissioned by the businessman Rafael Brunet Brown to the architect Alfredo Azancot to be his residence. It is one of the emblematic residences of the romanticism movement of the time, since its figure evokes a medieval castle, for that reason all the stones that were used for the construction of the castle were brought directly from France.
The castle was later sold to the Yarur family who added arabesque touches, since they are a family of Palestinian origin. Inside, colorful stained glass windows, period furniture and secret passages that connect the rooms stand out. Since 1974 the Castle belongs to the Carabineros of Chile.
Liberty Avenue
It is an important avenue that crosses Viña del Mar from north to south, it measures 1.6 kilometers long, begins at Avenida Benidorm and ends at Estero Marga Marga, since 1874 it has been known as Avenida Libertad, since 1892 the land began to be divided up to create the Población Vergara, an important sector where aristocracy families and also wealthy people built their summer houses or large mansions. as is the case of the Carrasco Palace. Today Libertad Avenue houses different shops, bars, restaurants, buildings and is an important tourist walk in the city.
Ross Castle
It was built in 1921 for the Chilean businessman and politician Gustavo Ross Santa María, it was commissioned by the architect Alberto Cruz Montt and is inspired by a European Castle, because at that time the style of romanticism prevailed. In 1922 the castle was sold this time to the textile businessman Luis Guevara, who lived in the place until 1967, when it was acquired to be the headquarters of the Unión Arabe Club. Currently you can visit the castle as there is a restaurant inside.
Viña del Mar Club
The Viña del Mar Club is a gentlemen's club located in the heart of Viña del Mar, next to the Plaza Sucre "Plaza Sucre (Viña del Mar)"), it was founded in 1901 by the Buenos Aires businessman Jorge Borrowman, although the original building was located in a mansion on Álvares Street, the building was destroyed after the earthquake of 1906, as a result of this event it was decided to build a new building by the Italian architect Ettore Petri, inaugurating the new club headquarters building in 1910. In the 1930s the building was expanded and a new pergola was added. Since 2000 it has been a national monument.
Parish of Viña del Mar
It is the main Catholic temple of Viña del Mar that is located next to the Plaza Eduardo Grove. In 1871 a small chapel was built in the area, however in 1882 the first church was erected for the faithful of the cities of Viña del Mar and Concón. This church was built by the Italian architect Eusebio Chelli for the Virgin of Sorrows, but unfortunately this church was destroyed in the 1906 Earthquake.
The new church was commissioned by the Chilean architect Emilio Jecquier, who completed it in 1912 in the neo-Romanesque style. Inside, the baptismal font of San Alberto Hurtado, a Chilean Catholic saint from Viñamarino, is still preserved.
Church of the Carmelites
It is an important Catholic heritage temple in the city of Viña del Mar, it is neo-Gothic in style and is located on Avenida Libertad, near the Vergara Town and the Carrasco Palace.
The origin of the temple dates back to 1903 when the land was acquired by the Carmelites for the construction of a chapel and a convent, in 1906 the chapel was destroyed, however in 1926 the definitive church was inaugurated in the same place, which is the one that lasts to this day, in 1931 the Carmelite School operated next to the church.
Viña del Mar Botanical Garden
The Viña del Mar Botanical Garden is a 395-hectare garden located on the outskirts of the city. The origins of the Garden date back to 1918 when the businessman of Croatian origin Pascual Baburizza created the Salitre Park that he would later donate to the Chilean State. The current garden was signed in 1951 and has been an important place for recreation, encounters with nature and conservation of Chilean plant species. In 1998, the National Botanical Garden Foundation was created, which is responsible for the administration of the park, setting rates and carrying out activities.
Municipal Theater of Viña del Mar
The Municipal Theater of Viña del Mar is an important heritage site of the city, it was built between 1925 and 1930 after Mercedes Alvares, wife of José Francisco Vergara (founder of the city), donated the land for the construction of a theater to the city. The theater is located in front of Plaza Vergara and was designed by architects Renato Schiavon and Aquiles Landoff. It was inaugurated on October 11, 1930 by President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo.
In 2009 it was declared a National Monument of Chile.
Viña del Mar Flower Clock
It is a garden clock and is one of the most recognized symbols of the city, in addition to being an important tourist spot, it is located at the foot of Cerro Castillo, in front of Caleta Abarca Beach, the clock was built in 1962 to beautify Viña del Mar as it was one of the venues for the 1962 Soccer World Cup, the original mechanism of the clock was built in the Favag factory in the Swiss city of Neuchâtel. Years later, a Mexican watch company changed the original mechanism for a musical one, for the first time with hourly sounds and melodies that change throughout the year. In May 2017, a large tree broke loose from its roots and fell on the iconic clock, causing serious damage that required its reconstruction and the replacement of the motor and hands, and it was subsequently reopened in June of the same year once repaired.
Vergara Pier
The Vergara Dock is an old iron structure in the city of Viña del Mar, it was built between 1894 and 1895 initially as a merchandise loading dock, however in 1932 it was expropriated by the treasury until in 1983 it became a tourist promenade with various restaurants, becoming one of the most visited places in the city. In 2000 the municipality of Viña del Mar declared it a historic building, however for years it was abandoned and even in 2009 there was a fire, it also suffered significant structural damage after the 2010 earthquake in Chile, however, in 2016 the pier was reopened and converted into a tourist promenade.
Fonck Museum
It is an important archeology museum in Viña del Mar, it was created in 1937 and is named after the German explorer based in Chile Francisco Fonck. Since 1985 it has been located in the back of the Carrasco Palace. Currently the museum has archaeological pieces from different indigenous peoples of Chile. It also has one of the most complete Rapa Nui art collections in Chile and even in the museum gardens there is a Moai brought directly from Rapa Nui.
Reñaca
It is a town belonging to Viña del Mar, it is a mainly exclusive, tourist and residential area, it is known for its extensive beaches, buildings shaped like steps on the hills, restaurants, nightclubs and recreation areas. The origins of the spa date back to 1900, but at the beginning of the 60s is when the urbanization of the area began, while in the 1980s Reñaca began to expand and position itself as a tourist center on the central coast. The main neighborhoods of the town are Los Almendros and Jardín del Mar, which are upper middle class and upper class. Its beaches are divided into sectors and attract a significant number of tourists, both Chilean and foreign, mainly Argentine.