La Serena (Coquimbo), Chile
La Serena (Coquimbo), Chile
Description
View cruises with La Serena (Coquimbo), ChileThe port of Coquimbo is the gateway to La Serena, founded in 1544. Located in the transition zone between Chile's austere Atacama Desert and the country's fertile central valley, La Serena is a popular holiday resort. The nearby Elqui Valley is an agricultural center famed for grapes, papaya and cherimoya. The region was also home to the pre-Columbian Diaguita and El Molle cultures, noted for their fine ceramics and jewelry.
La Serena's central Plaza de Armas is home to superb colonial buildings and a 19th-century cathedral. La Recova - the artisan's marketplace - features copper and silver jewelry, glass works and ceramics.
Points of Interest
- Tololo Observatory
- Elqui Valley
- Pisco District
- Archaeological Museum
- Petroglyphs
- Vineyards
- La Serena
- La Recova Market
More about La Serena (Coquimbo), Chile Points of Interest
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Tololo Observatory -
Let yourself be guided on a journey to the stars at the sixth largest astronomical observatory in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring powerful telescopes and awe-inspiring mountain views.
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Elqui Valley -
The towering Andes rise above the historic and breathtaking Elqui Valley. A popular destination for hiking and trekking, many come to the valley to relax among the grape vines and lemon trees.
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Pisco District -
Nestled in the Elqui Valley, the Pisco District is where the region's famous grape brandy, or pisco, is produced, as part of a long-standing tradition begun by the Spanish in the 16th century.
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Archaeological Museum -
Founded in 1943, this La Serena museum boasts a 12,000-piece collection of artifacts, including pre-Columbian pottery, an Easter Island moai, a variety of fossils and maps.
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Petroglyphs -
Blanketing the Enchanted Valley National Historic Monument, numerous petroglyphs offer a glimpse into cultures past, including stone engravings and painted figures dating as far back as 2,000 B.C.
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Vineyards -
Taste the fruits of Chile's acclaimed wine industry by exploring the vineyards around La Serena.
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La Serena -
La Serena is a popular holiday resort. Plaza de Armas is home to superb colonial buildings and a 19th-century cathedral. La Recova - the artisan's marketplace - features copper and silver jewelry, glass works and ceramics.
- La Recova Market -
