Viña del Mar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Viña del Mar
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Coastline of Viña del Mar
Palacio Vergara
Estadio Sausalito
The Parish Church
Church of Lourdes
|
||||||
|
||||||
| Nickname(s):
La Ciudad Jardín ("the Garden City")
La Perla del Pacífico ("the Pearl of the Pacific") |
||||||
| Country |  Chile |
|||||
| Region |  Valparaíso |
|||||
| Province | Valparaíso | |||||
| Viña del Mar | May 31, 1898 | |||||
| Government | ||||||
| • Type | Municipality | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| • City and Commune | 121.6 km2 (47.0 sq mi) | |||||
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) | |||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
|
||||||
| • City and Commune | 324,836 | |||||
| • Density | 2,671.3/km2 (6,918.8/sq mi) | |||||
| • Metro | 930,220 | |||||
| • Urban | 286,931 | |||||
| • Rural | 0 | |||||
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | |||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (CLST) | |||||
| Area code(s) | +56 32 | |||||
| Website | Municipality of Viña del Mar | |||||
Viña del Mar is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its name means "Vineyard of the Sea." People often call it La Ciudad Jardín ("The Garden City") because of its many parks and green spaces.
Viña del Mar is located in the Valparaíso Region. It is Chile's fourth-largest city. It has a population of about 324,836 people. The city is also part of the Greater Valparaíso area. This is Chile's second-largest metropolitan area. It includes five cities: Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Concón, Quilpue, and Villa Alemana.
Contents
History of Viña del Mar
Early Days of the City
The valley where Viña del Mar stands was once called Peuco. The Chango people, who were native to the area, lived here and fished. When Spanish conquistadores arrived, the valley was split into two large farms. One farm was called Viña del Mar. The other was Hacienda Las Siete Hermanas.
Francisco Javier Alvares allowed a railroad to be built through his land. This railroad connected Santiago and the port of Valparaíso. A young engineer named Jose Francisco Vergara came with the railroad. He married Francisco Javier Alvares's granddaughter, Mercedes Alvares. José Francisco Vergara had the idea to create a new city. He wanted it to be separate from Valparaíso.
Growth and Development
The city grew a lot with new businesses. The Sugar Refining Company (CRAV) opened in 1873. Lever, Murphy & Co. was founded in 1883. These companies helped the city become very important in Chile.
Military buildings also helped the city grow. A military base, Regimiento Coraceros, was built in 1917. Naval facilities were built in Las Salinas. Many military and naval people moved to the city. In 1917, a seaside house was rebuilt. Today, it is known as Wulff Castle.
In 1925, the Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theater) opened. In 1928, the president allowed a casino to be built. This helped make the city a popular tourist spot. The Casino Municipal de Viña del Mar opened in 1930. In 1931, the Presidential Palace opened. It became the summer home for the Chilean President. More hotels like the O'Higgins Hotel (1936) and Miramar Hotel (1945) also opened.
Viña del Mar was one of four cities to host the 1962 football (soccer) World Cup. The city is home to CD Everton. This is a soccer team in Chile's top league.
In 1971, Viña del Mar became a sister city with Sausalito, California in the USA. There's a "Viña del Mar" square in Sausalito. In Viña del Mar, there's a "Sausalito" stadium and lagoon. Since 1993, it's also a sister city with Mar del Plata, Argentina.
The city faced tough times in the 1980s. Many factories closed, and many people lost their jobs. But things have improved since then. More tourists visit the city. Also, copper prices have been high. This has helped the economy get better.
New shopping areas have been built. The 15 Norte Avenue area now has large shopping malls. There are also cinemas, fast food places, and supermarkets.
The city has also improved its roads and transportation. A modern subway, Valparaíso Metro, connects Viña del Mar to other cities. This has made travel much easier. The city was also affected by the February 27, 2010 earthquake.
City Landmarks and Attractions
Visitors love the parks and fountains in Viña del Mar. The Flower Clock is very famous. Its numbers are made of beautiful flowering plants. It is near Caleta Abarca beach. The Valparaiso Sporting Club is a horse racing track. It is another important landmark. The Jardín Botánico (Botanical Garden) is a large park. It was built by a rich businessman.
Some old buildings from the 1800s still stand. Most of these are on Avenida Libertad and Quillota Street. Quinta Vergara is a large park in the city center. The Presidential Palace is on Cerro Castillo (Castle Hill). It is the summer home for the Chilean president.
The city's casino was built in the art deco style. It has beautiful gardens around it. In 2004, a hotel was added to the casino building.
Palacio Rioja is a mansion built in 1907. It is now an environmental museum. The Fonck Museum has many old items from before Columbus. It also has a large moai statue from Easter Island. This is the only one on mainland Chile. Palacio Carrasco was built in 1912. It is now the Municipal Library. It also hosts art shows. Its gardens have sculptures, including one by Rodin. Palacio Vergara is in Quinta Vergara. It was built in 1906. It now houses the School of Fine Arts.
Brunet Castle was built in 1923. It is close to the presidential mansion. The Chilean police now own it. They use it to welcome important visitors. It became a national monument in 2005.
Palacio Carrasco is on Liberty Avenue. It was finished in 1923. For many years, it was a private home. Now it is a public library and cultural center. Outside, there is a sculpture by Auguste Rodin called "La Defensa." It was declared a national historic monument in 1986.
Castillo Wulff is an iconic building. It was built in 1906. It sits by the coast. It was built by Gustavo Wulff Mowle. It has two floors and a tower connected by a bridge. In 1995, it became a national monument. Today, it holds offices for the city's Heritage Unit. It also has a seafood restaurant.
Culture and Events
Viña del Mar has many restaurants and bars. You can find Chilean and international food. Seafood restaurants are along the Coast Roadway. This road connects Viña del Mar and Concón.
The Yacht Club de Chile is in Caleta Higuerillas. It was founded in Viña del Mar in 1955.
The Viña del Mar International Film Festival is very important. It is one of the biggest film festivals in Chile and Latin America.
Another big event is the Viña del Mar International Song Festival. It happens at the amphitheater in Quinta Vergara. This amphitheater was built in the 1960s.
The Municipal Theatre of Viña del Mar is a major cultural center. It hosts many artistic events.
The Museum of Naval Canons is an outdoor museum. It shows several old artillery pieces. They are in front of the Chilean Navy facilities.
The Fonck Museum opened in 1937. It has many objects from native cultures. These include items from the Rapanui, atacameños, Diaguitas, and Mapuches. It also has a large collection of old Peruvian jars. The museum also shows different animals and arthropods from Chile.
Climate
Viña del Mar has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. The Humboldt Current from the ocean affects its weather. Summers are dry and warm. But temperatures rarely go above 30 °C (86 °F) because of the ocean. Summer nights are cool, around 16 °C (61 °F).
Winters are damp and cool. Daytime temperatures are usually between 13 to 17 °C (55 to 63 °F). Nights are from 5 to 9 °C (41 to 48 °F). It rarely freezes. Spring and autumn can be mild or cool. Most rain falls in autumn and winter. July is usually the wettest month. The city gets about 480 mm of rain each year.
| Climate data for Viña del Mar (Rodelillo Airfield) 1992–2021, extremes 1970–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.7 (94.5) |
35.1 (95.2) |
33.1 (91.6) |
35.9 (96.6) |
35.3 (95.5) |
29.3 (84.7) |
31.6 (88.9) |
32.4 (90.3) |
32.0 (89.6) |
32.4 (90.3) |
35.0 (95.0) |
35.4 (95.7) |
35.9 (96.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.4 (74.1) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.0 (71.6) |
19.9 (67.8) |
17.3 (63.1) |
15.5 (59.9) |
15.0 (59.0) |
15.6 (60.1) |
16.9 (62.4) |
18.6 (65.5) |
20.9 (69.6) |
22.3 (72.1) |
19.2 (66.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.9 (64.2) |
17.4 (63.3) |
16.8 (62.2) |
15.1 (59.2) |
13.2 (55.8) |
11.6 (52.9) |
11.0 (51.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
12.4 (54.3) |
13.6 (56.5) |
15.3 (59.5) |
16.7 (62.1) |
14.4 (57.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.4 (54.3) |
12.3 (54.1) |
11.7 (53.1) |
10.4 (50.7) |
9.1 (48.4) |
7.9 (46.2) |
7.0 (44.6) |
7.2 (45.0) |
8.0 (46.4) |
8.6 (47.5) |
9.8 (49.6) |
11.2 (52.2) |
9.6 (49.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 7.4 (45.3) |
6.2 (43.2) |
2.3 (36.1) |
3.0 (37.4) |
2.0 (35.6) |
0.1 (32.2) |
0.1 (32.2) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
1.1 (34.0) |
2.4 (36.3) |
1.6 (34.9) |
5.5 (41.9) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.7 (0.03) |
1.1 (0.04) |
3.9 (0.15) |
20.4 (0.80) |
96.0 (3.78) |
161.7 (6.37) |
89.3 (3.52) |
88.7 (3.49) |
37.9 (1.49) |
15.5 (0.61) |
5.0 (0.20) |
3.7 (0.15) |
523.9 (20.63) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 26.7 |
| Source 1: Dirección Meteorológica de Chile | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (precipitation days 1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
Education in Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar has many colleges and universities. Some of them are:
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (with campuses for Architecture, Arts, Philosophy, Education, and History)
- Universidad de Valparaíso (with faculties for Business, Marine Sciences, and Engineering)
- Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María
- Universidad de Viña del Mar
- Universidad Andrés Bello
- Universidad de las Américas
- Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez
The Chilean Navy also has technical schools and a planetarium in Las Salinas.
There are also international schools in Viña del Mar:
- Scuola Italiana Arturo Dell' Oro (Italian school)
- Deutsche Schule Valparaíso (German school)
- The Mackay School (English school for boys)
Famous People from Viña del Mar
Many well-known people were born or lived in Viña del Mar. These include:
- Mon Laferte, a singer, songwriter, and artist (who has won Latin Grammys)
- Alberto Hurtado, a Catholic saint and founder of Hogar de Cristo
- María Luisa Bombal, a writer
- Patricio Aylwin, a former Chilean president
- Marco Oneto, a handball player
- Nicolás Massú, an Olympic champion tennis player
- Patricia Demick, a world champion boxer
- Tom Araya, the singer and bassist for the band Slayer
- Sylvia Soublette, a composer
- Tamara Jacquin, a sculptor and performance artist
- George Robledo, a famous footballer
City Government
Viña del Mar is a municipality. It is run by a municipal council. The head of the council is the alcalde (mayor). The mayor is elected every four years. The current mayor (2021-2024) is Macarena Ripamonti.
Economy and Business
Viña del Mar is a big tourist spot in Chile. Many visitors come each year. The city has many hotels and good facilities for tourists.
The Casino de Viña del Mar opened in 1930. For many years, it was one of the few casinos in Chile. The casino also has the Hotel del Mar.
The main industrial area is called El Salto. It is located where the Estero Marga Marga river begins to spread out.
Viña del Mar has many businesses. It is a popular place for companies to invest. It is considered one of the most exclusive resorts in Latin America. It is similar to Punta del Este in Uruguay and Mar del Plata in Argentina.
The city also hosts important fashion events. These are some of the biggest in Hispanic America.
Transportation
To get from Santiago to Viña del Mar, you can use Route CH-68. This road is also called the Pacific Highway.
Main roads connect Viña del Mar with other cities in Greater Valparaíso:
- Avenida España links Valparaíso with Viña.
- The Troncal and Troncal Norte Roads connect Viña with Quilpué and Villa Alemana.
- The Borgoño and Edmundo Eluchans avenues link Viña and Concón.
- The Way International and Southern Trunk Highway connect to towns further inland.
The busiest streets in Viña del Mar are in the city center. These include Avenida San Martín, Avenida Libertad, Quillota street, Viana-Alvares Avenue, and Avenida 1 Norte. These roads handle a lot of traffic. Many workers and students travel on them every day.
Public Transport
Since 2007, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan has been in place. This plan helps organize public transport in the area. It makes travel safer and faster for people.
The Valparaíso Metro is a train system. It serves the cities of Gran Valparaíso. It has one line, 43 kilometres (27 mi) long, with 20 stations. It connects Viña del Mar with Valparaíso, Quilpué, Villa Alemana, and Limache. A 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) part of the metro runs underground in Viña del Mar. This section opened in 2005.
Sports
Sports began to develop in Viña del Mar with the founding of Valparaiso Sporting Club in 1882. This club is also known as Sporting. It hosts many sports, but it is most famous for horse racing. Since 1885, Sporting has hosted The Derby horse race. This is one of Chile's most classic races.
The club has also had cricket, soccer, golf, and tennis clubs. The nearby Viña del Mar Lawn Tennis Club has rugby and polo. Valparaiso Sporting Club hosted the first international football match in Chile. The Chilean team played against Argentina. Sporting was also the only place for the South American Championship in 1920.
Each summer, The Mackay School hosts two Rugby sevens tournaments. Teams from Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay play in them.
Everton de Viña del Mar is the city's football team. The club started in 1909 in Valparaíso. It moved to Viña del Mar in the 1940s. Everton has won 4 national titles. They play their home games at Sausalito Stadium. This stadium hosted games for the 1962 FIFA World Cup and the Copa America in 1991 and 2015.
International Connections
Viña del Mar works with other cities around the world. These include:
Rosario, Argentina
Asunción, Paraguay
Panama City, Panama
San José, Costa Rica
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Images for kids
-
Panoramic view of Reñaca, Viña del Mar
-
Beach in Viña Del Mar
-
Reñaca
-
Palacio Carrasco
-
Quinta Vergara
-
Beach near Reñaca
-
Beach near Reñaca
-
Beach near Reñaca
See also
In Spanish: Viña del Mar para niños
