La Serena, Colonial city in northern Chile
La Serena is a coastal city in northern Chile that stretches between the Pacific Ocean and river valleys with gentle hills in the background. Several stone churches, wide avenues lined with palms and public squares with low buildings and pale facades define the central area near the sea.
Pedro de Valdivia founded the city in 1544 as a strategic base between Santiago and Peru. King Carlos I granted it official status in 1552, making it Chile's second-oldest city and a key point on the coastal route.
The name comes from La Serena de Extremadura in Spain, the founder's birthplace. Today the pale facades, arcades and flat roofs in the center recall that Mediterranean origin and shape the streetscape along the main avenues.
La Florida Airport lies east of the city with regular connections, while bus lines run along the coast north and south. Pedestrians find shaded arcades and benches in the squares downtown, offering shelter on sunny days.
The archaeological museum occupies a crescent-shaped building displaying pre-Columbian pottery and tools from the Elqui Valley. These objects document the lives of indigenous communities who lived in the dry coastal region centuries ago.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
