Our tour is on foot.
The meeting point will be at the British Arch, a monument located on Avenida Brasil, in the city of Valparaíso. It was donated in 1910 by the British colony residing in Valparaíso on the occasion of the Centennial of the Independence of Chile and was inaugurated in 1911. It's the work of French architect Alfredo Azancot.
Then you'll pass by Plaza Victoria, also called Plaza de la Victoria, a square located in the El Almendral sector of the city plan of Valparaíso, Chile, of heritage importance, which includes valuable statues and plant species.
This square is a major urban hub in the city, with a large influx of people and important buildings surrounding it, such as the Santiago Severín Library, the Cathedral of Valparaíso, and the Valparaíso Naval Club building. Plaza Victoria is also a recurring spot for cultural events and social gatherings.
We'll go into the Santiago Severín Library or Public Library no.1 Santiago Severin, which is the first public library in the city of Valparaíso, and the second oldest in Chile, after the National Library.
Its founding charter was signed in 1873. It initially operated inside the Palace of the Courts of Justice of Valparaíso, and then on a corner of Plaza Victoria. Its current building was built between 1912 and 1919, facing Plaza Simón Bolívar, and was declared a National Monument of Chile in 1998, in the category of Historic Monument.
We'll tour the inside of the Cathedral of Valparaíso, a Catholic cathedral church and the seat of the diocese of Valparaíso, consecrated to the Virgen del Carmen and the Holy Spirit. It's located in the city plan, more specifically in the El Almendral neighborhood, on the east side of Plaza Victoria, between Avenida Pedro Montt and Calle Chacabuco.
In 2023, the Cathedral of Valparaíso was declared a National Monument of Chile, in the category of Historic Monument.
We'll visit the Valparaíso Natural History Museum (MHNV), which is a natural history museum. It's the second oldest museum in Chile and the first in the region.
The Lyon Palace, where it's located, was declared a Chilean National Monument in the Historical Monument category in 1979.
We'll take the Espíritu Santo elevator, which is one of the 16 elevators in the city of Valparaíso, Chile. Opened on December 24, 1911, it connects the city plan with Bellavista Hill, as well as the Open Air Museum from Aldunate Street in Plaza Victoria.
And we'll end up at La Sebastiana, one of the three houses, along with La Chascona in Santiago and the Casa de Isla Negra, that were owned by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Located in Valparaíso, on Cerro Bellavista, it's famous for its beautiful architecture and magnificent view of the harbor bay.
