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CITY TOUR OF LA SERENA AND COQUIMBO
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The tour departs from the city centre by way of
the main square, the Plaza de Armas. La Serena is the second oldest city in Chile
after Santiago and it maintains a Spanish neo-colonial style according to
the "Plan Serena" which was implemented by legislation unique in
Chile, which allowed the city to grow yet keep its own style. The
heritage of the city includes 30 churches, a romantic avenue of replica
classical Italian statues and townhouses dating from the last century
together with public buildings according to the Plan Serena.
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The first stop is
the Archaeological Museum which gives insight into the early history
of the El Molle, Animas and Diaguita cultures and their impact
on the settlement of this region with examples of their craftsmanship
in their remaining artefacts. An original Moai statue from
Easter Island is also impressively on display. The tour visits
the picturesque "artesania" market of La Recova, full
of typical crafts, papaya products cultivated from the Elqui
Valley, jumpers knitted from alpaca wool, ceramics with Diaguita
designs, crafts in combarbalita stone and jewellery specially
crafted from the lapis lazuli semi precious stone which is only
found in this region of Chile and the Americas.
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There is time for
the visitor to enjoy the panoramic view from the hill of the University of
La Serena over the city and the bay of Coquimbo affording a splendid
opportunity for a photo stop.
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As the tour
progresses through the residential area of San Joaquin this recent modern
sector provides a colourful backdrop with beautiful gardens of hibiscus,
bougainvillea and poinsettias amongst many other flowering plants which
thrive in this warm climate all year round. The tour continues to the
Lighthouse, El Faro, the symbol of La Serena and allows time for a photo
stop of the wide sweep of the bay and along the Avenue of the Sea with its
beaches, modern hotels, pubs, discos and restaurants, showing how this area
has responded to the recent growth in tourism.
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The traditional
fish market by the Port of Coquimbo is
typical of this region, showing the great variety of fish and shellfish
which are available. This colourful scene shows the main industry of
the city and its close connection with the ocean.
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