La Sebastiana, Valparaíso, House museum on Bellavista Hill, Valparaíso, Chile.
La Sebastiana is a multi-story house on Bellavista Hill in Valparaíso, Chile, now serving as a museum. The building rises along the slope and offers wide views over the bay and the city from its upper rooms.
Sebastián Collado began construction in the 1950s, but the house remained unfinished until Pablo Neruda acquired it in 1961 and made it his residence. The poet lived here until his death in 1973, when the military dictatorship damaged and looted the building.
The poet collected objects from around the world here, including old maps, Venetian glass, and a mechanical horse-drawn carriage on the top floor. Visitors today also see his personal library and the colored windows that scatter light across the wooden floors.
The climb to the museum is steep, so visitors should wear sturdy shoes and allow enough time for the ascent. The upper floors are accessible only by a narrow spiral staircase, which may be difficult for those with limited mobility.
The poet installed a mechanical wooden horse on the upper floor that children can ride, and it still works today. From his bedroom window, he watched the New Year's Eve fireworks over the bay each year, a tradition that remains alive in Valparaíso to this day.
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