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Surrounded by the great Atacama Desert, the twin
cities of Coquimbo and La Serena are popular seaside resorts. Precious
rainfall provides sustenance for olive groves and attracts an array of
wildlife, from the near-extinct giant Andean condor to mountain lions,
llamas and falcons. |
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HISTORY
This is a city with two
ports, Coquimbo and Guayacan.
Originally a landing place for La Serena dating from
Colonial times,
some of the buildings and parts of the port were built as late as 1830.
It was given the status of major port in 1846. Guayacan was in 1858, the
site of the world’s largest copper mine and both ports were used in
the transportation of the product. With the large number of foreign
workers employed, a large number of timber buildings were constructed
which rank among the most interesting in Chile. In 1865
the English
cemetery was established. Coquimbo’s population is approximately
106,000. |
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PLACES
OF INTEREST |
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Museo
de Sitio
Housing
a pre-Columbian graveyard, this Las Aninas cultural complex dates from
to 1100 AD. |
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The
Colonial district
Some
of the most interesting timbered buildings are located in this
area,
built by the foreign workers in the city during the 19th century. |
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Church
of Guayacan
The
structure for this building was actually acquired in Belgium in 1888 and
assembled here on the square of the old refinery. |
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Costanera
This
is the waterfront area, with small craft moored alongside and a shipping
harbor. Local tourist information can be found
inside the Casa de la
Cultura. The shellfish market is also located along the promenade. |
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Chile’s
Colorful Coast
The
mix of colonial and modern architecture is most attractive in Coquimbo
with the Plaza de Armas the central and dominant area of this coastal
city. Driving along the coast you will see the old lighthouse that is
the city symbol of La Serena. The
Archaeological Museum houses the most complete collection of
pre-colonial artifacts of this region with a splendid display of
pre-Inca Diaguita Indian pottery and an original moai (stone figure)
from Easter Island. A short walk from the Museum is the La Recova market
(picture) where you can browse among handicrafts, pottery, semi-precious stones, and Alpaca wool items.
You can also visit a pisco distillery where you may be
offered a sample of this local grape brandy. |
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ACTIVITY |
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Make
questions corresponding to the highlighted sentences. Real answers have
been highlighted IN PINK. |
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