Showing 1-7 of 7 results
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Iglesia Catedral
La Serena has 29 churches to its credit, many beautiful stone creations in neoclassical or eclectic styles, and a bunch of the prettiest can be found on or near the Plaza de Armas. On the east side, the handsome neoclassical Iglesia Catedral dates from 1844; it also has a sobering museum of religious art.
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Iglesia San Agustín
Three blocks east of the Plaza de Armas, the august limestone Iglesia San Agustín was built by the Jesuits in 1755, then passed to the Augustinians after the Jesuits' expulsion. It has undergone serious modifications.
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Iglesia San Francisco
In a city full of august churches, the granddaddy of them all is the colonial Iglesia San Francisco. Built in the early 1600s, the squat stone construction has a chunky tower and fancy baroque facade.
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Iglesia Santo Domingo
The dainty-looking bell tower of Iglesia Santo Domingo looks as though it should have a twirling ballerina inside. The tower is a later addition, only a century old, though the attractive limestone church dates back to 1755.
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Museo Arqueológico
This crescent-shaped archaeological museum makes an ambitious attempt to corral Chile's Pre-Columbian past. Its highlights include Atacameña mummies, a hefty moai (large anthropomorphic statue) from Easter Island and interesting Diaguita artifacts such as a dinghy made from sea-lion hide.
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Observatorio Turístico Collowara
This shiny new observatory is built for tourists; no serious interstellar research is conducted here, but the facility boasts a 40cm (16in) telescope for stargazing. Book at the ticket office in nearby Andacollo, and inquire there about transport to the hilltop observatory. Since the sessions are late, you can either stay overnight in Andacollo, or take an organized tour from La Serena.
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Tribunales
Just to its north of the Plaza de Armas are the bluff facades of the Municipalidad and Tribunales, built as a result of González Videla's Plan Serena.
Showing 1-7 of 7 results
