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Museo a Cielo Abierto
Between 1969 and 1973, students from the Universidad Católica's Instituto de Arte created this museum, which comprises 20 brightly colored abstract murals that cover numerous hillside sites. To reach it take the Ascensor Espiritu Santo (sometimes called Ascensor Bellavista), near Plaza Victoria.
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Museo de Bellas Artes
The Museo de Bellas Artes is housed in the Palacio Baburizza (1916). Designed for an Italian nitrate baron but named after the Yugoslav who purchased it from him, the Art Nouveau palace is noteworthy for imaginative woodwork, forged-iron details and a steeply pitched central tower. Set among attractive gardens, the building and grounds alone justify a visit. From here, it's possible to loop over to Cerro Concepción, or vice versa.
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Museo de Historia Natural
The neoclassical Palacio Lyon (1881), once a private mansion, now houses the Museo de Historia Natural. The exhibits here are not that inspiring, but the upper exhibition halls have vivid dioramas on Chile's pre-Hispanic cultures.
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Museo del Mar Lord Cochrane
The Museo del Mar Lord Cochrane was built in 1842 for the dashing Scottish naval hero Lord Thomas Cochrane (who set up Chile's navy), but was never occupied by him. The building, a tile-roofed, colonial-style house above Plaza Sotomayor, held Chile's first astronomical observatory. There are few exhibits, but the patio has a stunning view over the harbor. To reach it take the Ascensor Cordillera (located one block north of Plaza Sotomayor) to Cerro Cordillera, then walk east to Merlet at the top of the ascensor .
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Museo Naval y Marítimo
This is an excellent but jingoistic military museum - it seems strange to an outsider that the exhibits still crow about Chile's 19th-century victory over Peru in the War of the Pacific. There are major displays on the famous Captain Arturo Prat, as well as the romantic figure of Lord Cochrane (nicknamed the 'sea wolf' by Napoleon, one of his admirers). One fascinating display studies the history of voyages around Cape Horn.
Showing 1-5 of 5 results
