Sewell

Sewell is an abandoned mining settlement built steeply into the slopes of the Andes Mountains at roughly 2,140 meters (7,000 feet) elevation. The buildings are connected by a central staircase system that served as the main circulation spine of the complex.

The settlement was founded in 1904 by the Braden Copper Company to support copper extraction at the El Teniente Mine. It rapidly developed into a complete worker city built around the technical and economic demands of modern mining operations.

The settlement reflects the worker culture of the copper mining era, with the arrangement of buildings showing how workers and their families moved daily between residential areas and production zones. The names of streets and neighborhoods tell of the international makeup of the workforce and the social structure of this mining community.

Access is restricted to authorized guided tours arranged through Codelco-approved operators, with departures available year-round from Santiago and Rancagua. Visitors should prepare for cool, windy mountain weather and bring comfortable walking shoes, as exploring the complex requires significant stair climbing.

The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006, recognizing the engineering innovation that its architecture and planning represented in overcoming extreme high-altitude conditions. This recognition honors how engineers managed to create a functioning city on a mountainside.