Valparaíso
Valparaíso | |
|---|---|
The historic quarter with the Lutheran Church on the left Iquique Heroes Monument La Sebastiana Cityscape as seen from the sea | |
| Nickname(s): The Jewel of the Pacific, Valpo | |
| Coordinates: 33°02′46″S 71°37′11″W / 33.04611°S 71.61972°W | |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Valparaíso |
| Province | Valparaíso |
| Founded | 1536 |
| Named after | Valparaíso de Arriba, Spain |
| Capital | Valparaíso |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Mayor | Camila Nieto (FA) |
| Area | |
• City | 401.6 km2 (155.1 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2017 census) | |
• City | 296,655 |
| • Density | 740/km2 (1,900/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 295,918 |
| • Metro | 951,311 |
| • Rural | 737 |
| Demonym(s) | Porteño (m), Porteña (f) |
| GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) | |
| • Year | 2023 |
| • Total (Metro) | $28.7 billion |
| • Per capita | $28,500 |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (CLT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (CLST) |
| Area code | (country) 56 + (city) 32 |
| Climate | Csb |
| Website | municipalidaddevalparaiso |
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Valparaíso (Spanish: [balpaɾaˈiso]) is a major city, commune, seaport, and naval base facility in the Valparaíso Region of Chile. Valparaíso was originally named after Valparaíso de Arriba, in Castile-La Mancha, Spain.
Greater Valparaíso is the second-most populous metro area in the country. Valparaiso is the second-largest city in the metro area (behind Viña del Mar). It is located about 120 km (75 mi) northwest of Santiago, by road, and is one of the Pacific Ocean's most important seaports. Valparaíso is the capital of Chile's second most-populated administrative region and has been the Chilean Navy headquarters since 1817, as well as being the seat of the National Congress of Chile since 1990.
Valparaíso played an important geopolitical role in the second half of the 19th century when it served as a major stopover for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via the Straits of Magellan. The area experienced rapid growth during its golden age as a magnet for European immigrants, when the city was known by international sailors as "Little San Francisco" and "jewel of the Pacific". Notable developments during this bustling period include Latin America's oldest stock exchange, the continent's first volunteer fire department, Chile's first public library, and the oldest Spanish language newspaper in continuous publication in the world, El Mercurio de Valparaíso. In 2003, the historic quarter of Valparaíso was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The twentieth century was unfavorable to Valparaíso, as many wealthy families abandoned the city. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, and the associated reduction in ship traffic, dealt a serious blow to the region's shipping- and port-based economy. By the 21st century, the port of San Antonio had surpassed Valparaíso in trade volume (TEU) handled, leading to the questioning of its traditional moniker of Puerto Principal ("principal port") of Chile.
Between 2000 and 2015, the city experienced a recovery, attracting artists, tourists, and cultural entrepreneurs, who settled after they were attracted by the city's hillside historic districts. Today, many thousands of people visit Valparaíso each month, from Chile and abroad to enjoy the city's labyrinth of cobbled alleys and colorful buildings. The Port of Valparaíso still continues to be a major distribution center for container traffic, copper, and fruit exports. It also receives growing attention from cruise ships that visit during the South American summer. Most significantly, Valparaíso has transformed itself into a major educational and entertainment hub, with four large traditional universities, and several large vocational colleges.
While the city is well-known for its artisans and bohemian culture, it is also famous as the home of several highly-regarded music festivals and other artistic events. The largest, and arguably most iconic, is the annual Viña Del Mar International Song Festival (often simply called "Viña" or "Viña Del Mar"). Typically held in March, in a recently refurbished, 40,000-capacity amphitheater, "Viña" is one of the biggest annual economic boosts to the region, as the event usually sells-out completely, and thousands of attendees and workers will travel to and stay in the city and metro area. In addition to showcasing numerous performers of many styles, and awarding various prizes, the internationally-televised and live-streamed festival is typically headlined by superstar musicians, from both the Spanish- and English-speaking worlds.