Valparaiso

Valparaiso is a city in Chile, located on a dozen hills along the Pacific coast. It was called the "Pearl of the Pacific" before the 1906 earthquake, when it was completely destroyed. Along the coast is the so-called Lower Town, where there are many shops, offices and warehouses. Several steep boulevards lead to the hills where the houses or the Upper Town are. Most residents and guests of the city use one of the fifteen city "elevators" built between 1883 and 1916. The most remarkable of these facilities is the "Elevator" Polanco by Calais Simson. Its lower station is reached by a tunnel carved into the ground and from there rises 80 meters vertically up a wooden tower to a special balcony, which reveals a wonderful view of the city. The Museum of Fine Arts is located in the Baburitsa Palace. The Museo de Historia Natural is housed in the beautiful wealthy Palacio Lyon building on Calais Condel, built in 1881. There are stuffed penguins here.

One of the great landmarks of Valparaiso is the house of the Chilean poet and Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda, who lived here. A lover of the sea, Neruda bought it in 1938. He rebuilt it to look like a ship with a wooden floor. Over time, he added a roofless tower and a small space covered with wood and zinc to hear the raindrops. Each of the rooms is a treasure trove of marine objects collected from around the world. There is also a large collection of books.

Valparaiso has a rich cultural and architectural tradition. That is why the old historical part of the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.