Monumento al soldado desconocido, Arica, War memorial at Morro de Arica, Chile
The Monumento al Soldado Desconocido is a stone monolith at the summit of Morro de Arica featuring a carved soldier figure holding a torch on its front. The structure rises above the coastal landscape as a prominent visual anchor on the hilltop.
The monument was inaugurated on June 7, 1975, honoring soldiers who died during the War of the Pacific between 1879 and 1883. Its completion nearly a century after the conflict reflects how nations process their military history over time.
Local artisans from the Stonework Workshop of the University of Chile carved this monument, linking regional craftsmanship to academic institutions that shaped northern Chile's cultural landscape. The work reflects how communities honor their fallen through skilled stone carving traditions.
Access is via the Morro de Arica, so expect hillside pathways and wear suitable footwear for the climb. The best times to visit are early morning or late afternoon when light conditions are favorable.
The memorial holds the remains of an unidentified soldier who died at the Battle of Pisagua on November 2, 1879. The inscription is written in octosyllabic verse, a traditional Spanish poetic form that gives the tribute a literary quality.
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