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La Serena, Chile
Author: Krzysztof Ulaczyk (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
La Serena is a city in northern Chile. Covering 1,892.8 sq km (730.8 sq mi), it has a population of 200,000 (2011 estimate) with a metropolitan population of over 400,000. In terms of metropolitan population, it is the fourth largest city in the country. The city observes the Chile Standard Time (UTC-4) and in summer the Chile Standard Summer Time (UTC-3).
Guide to La Serena Hotels
Here's a list of hotels in La Serena that you can book online, with full description, star rating, address, location map, evaluation, and prices as offered by different booking sites. This helps you to make your room booking with the site that offers the best price.More on La Serena
La Serena is the capital of Coquimbo Region. Founded in 1544, it is the second oldest city in Chile after the national capital, Santiago, which is located 471 km to the south. La Serena has good beaching along the coast facing the Pacific Ocean, making it a popular tourist destination, especially in summer. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Chile, with its population increasing over 30% between 1992 and 2002.
Iglesia de San Francisco, La Serena, Chile
Author: Sfs90 (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
La Serena experiences what is called a cool desert climate. It only receives 96 mm (3.78 in) of rain in a year, most of which in the months of July (31 mm) and June (20 mm). Warmest months are January and February, when the average high temperature reaches 22°C (72°F). Coldest month is July, when the average lows drop to 15°C (59°F).
Summer is the main tourist season for La Serena. It stages several events and recreational activities during summer to draw the crowds. Among them, there are music festivals, concerts and a Fashion Week. Visitors looking for some culture will be pleased that the city has preserved and restored many of its historic churches, thanks to an urban renewal project carried out between 1948 and 1958, called Plan Serena, to rescue and develop its own architectural style.
La Serena was founded on the orders of Pedro Gutiérrez de Valdivia, the first royal governor of Chile, so that there is a rest stop for soldiers between Santiago and Lima. The city was established twice. The first settlement was founded by Captain Juan Bohón, with the name Villanueva de La Serena, in 1544 (or perhaps 1543 - historians cannot agree on the date). That initial settlement was destroyed by local Indian tribes in 1549. Then Captain Francisco de Aguirre was ordered to re-establish the settlement, which he did, at a slightly different location, a few months later. The present city grew out of the second settlement.
Visiting La Serena
You can fly to La Serena from Santiago de China on LAN. The flight takes about an hour. The other option is to take a bus - a journey of about 7-8 hours.Places of Interest in La Serena
- Avenida del Mar
La Serena's coastal boulevard and center of nightlife, with hotels, bars and restaurants. - Catedral de La Serena
Majestic cathedral with a Neo-Classical façade built in 1844. - Iglesia de San Francisco
The oldest stone church in La Serena, this was built between 1590 and 1627. Next to it is the Museo de Arte Religioso, which exhibits religious art from the 16th century. - Museo Arqueológico
Archaeological museum with some of the best collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, including a 1,500-year-old Andean mummy and a 3-m (10ft) moai from Easter Island. - Museo Mineralógico
Located within the Universidad de La Serena, this museum features rock and mineral samples collected by Polish mineralogist Ignacio Domeyko. - Plaza de Armas
This is the main square in the city. It marks the site of the city's second founding.
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