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 The
city, also known as ‘the Garden City’ was founded on December 29th,
1874, by the engineer Jose Francisco Vergara Echevers, and has grown
into Chile's most luxurious beach resort town, attracting visitors
from all over the world.
Some come for Vina Del Mar 's languid tropical atmosphere, its
grand tree lined , its vast, soft stretches of white sand beach,
and its sybaritic abundance of gourmet restaurants.
While Vina's celebrity has brought it any number of sleek, modern
buildings and hotels , the character of the town is set by its
many charming colonial houses.
Perhaps the most romantic way to tour Vina Del Mar 's tranquil
streets is via the Victoria, the region's traditional horse-drawn
carriage.
Vina is famous for the Musical Festival of Vina del Mar, which
is held every year in the third week of February and lasts for
five days. It is very popular amongst nationals and effectively
marks the end of the summer season.
The city is also home to one of the most renowned gambling casinos
you´ll find in the country.
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Places to see & things
to do in Vina del Mar
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The Flower Clock
One of Vina's landmarks is the flower clock.
It's a large clock, it's face made only with flowers.
Address: Caleta Abarca |
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Palacio Rioja: This French-style
palace was Built by Alfredo Azancot for banker Fernando
Rioja in 1906. It now houses an environmental museum and
a cinema. It is located on one of the city's main streets
(Quillota). Some of the many spacious rooms are used as
meeting facilities, according to local hearsay, there's
even a resident ghost wandering about the place.
Address: Quillota 214. Tel: (56-32) 689665 |
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Quinta Vergara: Vina del
Mar's founding family, the Vergara family, used to live
at the Quinta Vergara. They built their house there and
the whole quinta (estate) was their garden. The quinta
itself has many Chilean trees and flowers, and it's worth
the visit. The house itself is now houses the museum of
fine arts, initially based on the families fine collection
of art, with some interesting paintings from this century.
Address: Quinta Vergara |
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The Vina Festival: Vina's
international song festival is an annual attraction. It's
usually held during the 3rd week of February and lasts
five evenings. The festival itself consists of many Latin
American and some European performers competing for the
"gaviota de plata" (silver seagull). But what
really makes the festival is that they mix the performances
of the contestants with concerts by established, well
known Latin artists from all over the world. The show
itself is held in the Quinta Vergara and in walking distance
from downtown. Address: Quinta Vergara |
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Fonck Museum of Archeology and Natural
History : As well as being a classic archeological
and cultural palace, it now lodges this interesting museum.
Exhibits range from garments and other remains dating
back to Chile's prehistory to Araucanian silverware and
pre-Columbian pottery. Another section contains exhibits
of a more natural historical character, with samples of
fossils and minerals, preserved insects and stuffed animals.
The museum also has the only Easter Island Muai on South
America's mainland. Address: 4 Norte with 1 Poniente. |
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Vina del Mar's Casino is
Chile's first and most active Casino and on par with many
international houses. Dress code: no shorts allowed or
sandals. At least wear a shirt and pants. If you go with
jeans, you won't be able to go into all the rooms. It's
usually crowded after 20:00, and open until 07:00. The
Casino has nice gardens and a great view of the Pacific
ocean. Address: Corner of Av. San Martin and 1 Norte. |
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National Botanical garden:
Bordering Viña del Mar's industrial zone is this
oasis of vegetation, covering an area of 40 hectares with
more than 800 species of flora. Originally commissioned
by nitrate baron Pascual Baburizza, and created by French
landscape gardener George Dubois, the park was donated
to the Nitrate and Iodine Company so as to assure its
permanence. This park serves both an educational and scientific
purpose, and is an excellent place to go walking with
the children, thanks to its stony paths, ponds and woodlands.
Address: Camino El Olivar s/n, El Salto Tel: (56) (32)
67 2566 |
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Vergara Pier: A popular image
is that of the old pier, reshaped today for tourism use,
not only for the place where it is located, but also for
its impressive crane. Inaugurated in 1938, it was first
used in the loading and unloading of coal; later, it went
to the disappeared sugar refinery ‘Crav’. It
was in 1983 when it became a tourism center. This structure
is located next to the beaches ‘Acapulco’ to
the south, and ‘El Sol’ (the sun) to the north,
and has facilities such as restaurants, tea room, disco,
during the high season. Next to the pier, there is a group
of crafts stands selling hand made traditional items. |
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Derby Day: A faithful recreation
of the famed English horse race held at Ascot since the
18th century, this event has been held in Via del Mar
uninterruptedly since the late 19th century. The event
normally takes place on the first Sunday of February.
Just like its British counterpart, it is open to three-year-old
geldings, which take to a grass course that covers two-and-a-half
kilometers. The venue itself is the sumptuous Sporting
Club building, which has been home to the Derby ever since
it began more than a century ago. (Tel: +56-32-655671) |
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