Concepción, Port city in Bio Bio Region, Chile
Concepción is a city on the northern bank of the Bio Bio River in the Bio Bio Region of Chile. The urban area connects residential neighborhoods, university districts, and industrial zones that stretch from the riverfront to the gentle hills inland.
Pedro de Valdivia founded the settlement in 1550 under the name Concepción de María Purísima del Nuevo Extremo and made it an important center during colonial times. Several severe earthquakes forced the city to adapt its location and construction methods over the centuries.
At the university, a large mural covering Latin American history draws visitors who walk through the campus and explore the open courtyards between the academic buildings. In the streets around the plazas, locals sit in cafés while the younger population walks through the downtown pedestrian zones and meets in parks along the riverbank.
Carriel Sur International Airport offers regular connections to Santiago and other Chilean cities while the Biotrén railway system links the suburbs to the center. Most visitors walk through the downtown area, where pedestrian streets and plazas encompass most of the points of interest.
The city produces many Chilean rock bands and hosts the Rock en Conce music festival every year, drawing musicians and fans from across the country. The local music scene uses many small stages and venues in neighborhoods around the campus.
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