Casa Piñera, Colonial house in La Serena, Chile.

Casa Piñera is a mid-19th century residence in the historic center that wraps around a central courtyard with wooden posts supporting a roof structure. The walls are made from adobe brick several centimeters thick, designed to regulate temperature and provide durability.

The building was constructed in 1845 during a period of silver mining activity that brought economic growth to the region and encouraged new construction in town. It belonged to a wealthy family whose business interests fueled the city's expansion during this era.

The house takes its name from Paula Piñera Aguirre, who inherited it from her husband, the miner Alejandro Aracena Salamanca, and lived there with several of her siblings before selling it in 1898 to Rosa and Jesús Piñera for 18,000 pesos. Since then it has housed the extension and communications centre of the Universidad de La Serena, hosting events and cultural activities throughout the year.

The building sits in the heart of the historic district at an easy-to-find location, just a short walk from the main plaza and civic buildings. You can reach it on foot without difficulty and explore other historic sites in the immediate area during the same visit.

The patio is paved with huevillos, small rounded river stones set in geometric designs. The house was commissioned in 1845 by the mining merchant Alejandro Aracena Salamanca from the English carpenter Samuel Averell. A fire on the night of 1 June 2015 damaged thousands of research texts; restoration is scheduled to begin in 2026.