View source for Valparaíso

{{Short description|Second largest city in Chile}}
{{about|the city in Chile}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Valparaíso
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = es
| other_name         = 
| image_flag         = Flag of Valparaiso, Chile.svg
| flag_alt           = Flag
| image_shield       = Escudo_de_Valparaíso_(Chile).svg
| shield_alt         = Coat of arms
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
 |border      = infobox
 |total_width = 300
 |image_style = 
 |perrow      = 1/2/2/2
 |caption_align = center
 |image1      = Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso 04.jpg
 |caption1    = The [[#Cityscape|historic quarter]] with the {{ill|Lutheran Church of Valparaíso|es|Iglesia luterana de Valparaíso|lt=Lutheran Church}} on the left
 |image2      = Intendencia3.JPG
 |caption2    = [[Edificio Armada de Chile]]
 |image3      = Monumento a los Héroes de Iquique, Valparaíso 20200207 16.jpg
 |caption3    = {{ill|Monument to the Heroes of Iquique|es|Monumento a los Héroes de Iquique|lt=Iquique Heroes Monument}}
 |image4      = Ascensor Artilleria Valparaíso.JPG
 |caption4    = [[Artillería funicular railway|Artillería funicular]] 
 |image5      = Iglesia La Matriz del Salvador, Valparaíso, Chile.JPG
 |caption5    = [[Iglesia de la Matriz|Matriz Church]]
 |image6      = La Sebastiana.jpg
 |caption6    = {{ill|La Sebastiana|es}}
 |image7 = Valparaíso (48338327532).jpg
 |caption7   = Cityscape as seen from the sea
 }}
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| nicknames           = The Jewel of the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]], Valpo
| image_map          = Comuna de Valparaíso.svg
| map_alt            = Map of the Valparaíso commune in the Valparaíso Region
| map_caption        = Location in Valparaíso Region
| pushpin_map        = Chile
| pushpin_map_narrow = yes
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_alt    = Location in Chile
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Chile
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|02|46|S|71|37|11|W|region:CL-VL|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Chile}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of Chile|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Valparaíso Region|Valparaíso]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Provinces of Chile|Province]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Valparaíso Province|Valparaíso]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1536
| founder            = 
| named_for          = [[Valparaíso de Arriba]], Spain
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = Valparaíso
| government_footnotes = <ref name="Official">{{cite web |url=https://municipalidaddevalparaiso.cl/alcalde-y-concejo/ |title=Mayor and Council |work=Municipality of Valparaíso |access-date=2 November 2024 |language=es |archive-date=17 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917194436/https://municipalidaddevalparaiso.cl/alcalde-y-concejo/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Municipality]]
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Camila Nieto ([[Broad Front (Chilean political party)|FA]])
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="INE">{{cite web |url=http://resultados.censo2017.cl/ |title=Resultados CENSO 2017 |work=[[National Statistics Institute (Chile)|National Statistics Institute of Chile]] |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=es}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 401.6
| area_rank          = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 10
| elevation_max_footnotes = 
| elevation_max_m    = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="INE"/>
| population_total   = 296655
| population_as_of   = 2017 census
| population_rank    = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_urban   = 295918
| population_blank1_title = Rural
| population_blank1  = 737
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = auto
| population_demonym = {{lang|es|[[Porteño]]}} (m), {{lang|es|Porteña}} (f)
| population_note    = 
| population_metro   = 951311
| demographics_type1 = 
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="INE"/>
| demographics1_title1 = Male
| demographics1_info1 = 135,217
| demographics1_title2 = Female
| demographics1_info2 = 140,765
<!-- GDP --------------->| demographics_type2 = [[GDP|GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)]]
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1 = Year
| demographics2_info1 = 2023
| demographics2_title2 = Total (Metro)
| demographics2_info2 = $28.7&nbsp;billion<ref name="TelluBase">{{cite web |url=https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase_factsheet_chl.pdf |publisher=Tellusant |title=TelluBase—Chile Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series) |access-date=2024-01-11}}</ref>
| demographics2_title3 = Per capita
| demographics2_info3 = $28,500
| timezone           = [[Time in Chile|CLT]]
| utc_offset         = −4
| timezone_DST       = [[Time in Chile|CLST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −3
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| area_code_type     = 
| area_code          = ''(country)'' 56 + ''(city)'' 32
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|Csb]]
| website            = {{URL|municipalidaddevalparaiso.cl}}{{in|angles}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Valparaíso''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˌ|v|æ|l|p|ə|ˈ|r|eɪ|s|oʊ}} {{respell|val|pə|RAY|soh}}<ref name="Cohen">{{cite encyclopedia|title=The Columbia Gazetteer of the World: A to G |entry=Valparaiso|encyclopedia=The Columbia Gazetteer of the World |edition=Second |volume=3: P to Z |editor-first=Saul B. |editor-last=Cohen |publisher=Columbia University Press |location= New York |date=2008 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=C6PLxz8EMk0C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PR3&pg=PA4062#v=onepage&q&f=false 4062] |isbn=9780231145541}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|ˌ|v|æ|l|p|ə|ˈ|r|eɪ|z|oʊ}}<ref name="CollinsDict">{{Cite Collins Dictionary|Valparaiso|access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref> or {{IPAc-en|ˌ|v|æ|l|p|ə|ˈ|r|aɪ|s|oʊ}};<ref name="CollinsDict"/> {{IPA|es|balpaɾaˈiso|lang}}) is a major city, [[Communes of Chile|commune]], [[Port|seaport]], and [[naval base]] facility in the [[Valparaíso Region]] of [[Chile]]. Valparaíso was originally named after [[Valparaíso de Arriba]], in [[Castilla–La Mancha|Castile-La Mancha, Spain]].

[[Greater Valparaíso]] is the second-most populous [[Metropolitan area|metro area]] in the country. Valparaiso is the second-largest city in the metro area (behind [[Viña del Mar]]).  It is located about {{cvt|120|km|mi}} northwest of [[Santiago]], by road, and is one of the [[Pacific Ocean]]'s most important seaports. Valparaíso is the [[Capital city|capital]] of Chile's second most-populated administrative region and has been the [[Chilean Navy]] headquarters since 1817, as well as being the seat of the [[National Congress of Chile]] since 1990.

Valparaíso played an important geopolitical role in the second half of the 19th century when it served as a major stopover for ships traveling between the [[Atlantic]] and [[Pacific]] oceans via the [[Straits of Magellan]]. The area experienced rapid growth during its golden age as a magnet for European immigrants, when the city was known by international sailors as "Little [[San Francisco]]" and "jewel of the [[Pacific]]".<ref>''Between Two Worlds: Memoirs of a Philosopher-Scientist'' {{ISBN|978-3-319-29250-2}} p. 120</ref> Notable developments during this bustling period include [[Latin America]]'s oldest [[stock exchange]], the continent's first volunteer [[fire department]], Chile's first [[public library]], and the oldest [[Spanish language]] newspaper in continuous publication in the world, {{Lang|es|[[El Mercurio de Valparaíso]]}}. In 2003, the historic quarter of Valparaíso was declared a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].

The twentieth century was unfavorable to Valparaíso, as many wealthy families abandoned the city. The opening of the [[Panama Canal]] in 1914, and the associated reduction in ship traffic, dealt a serious blow to the region's shipping- and port-based economy. By the 21st century, the port of [[San Antonio, Chile|San Antonio]] had surpassed Valparaíso in trade volume ([[Twenty-foot equivalent unit|TEU]]) handled,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Valparaíso sube dos puestos y San Antonio se mantiene TOP 10 en ránking de puertos de Cepal |url=https://portalportuario.cl/valparaiso-sube-dos-puestos-y-san-antonio-se-mantiene-top-10-en-ranking-de-puertos-de-cepal/ |date=2018-05-28 |access-date=2022-03-13 |work=PortalPortuario.cl |language=Spanish |archive-date=2022-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412074900/https://portalportuario.cl/valparaiso-sube-dos-puestos-y-san-antonio-se-mantiene-top-10-en-ranking-de-puertos-de-cepal/ |url-status=live}}</ref> leading to the questioning of its traditional moniker of ''Puerto Principal'' ("principal port") of Chile.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mensaje de Jorge Sharp en Twitter generó disputa por título de "puerto principal" entre San Antonio y Valparaíso |url=https://www.soychile.cl/San-Antonio/Sociedad/2017/08/22/483082/Mensaje-de-Jorge-Sharp-en-Twitter-genero-disputa-por-titulo-de-puerto-principal-entre-San-Antonio-y-Valparaiso.aspx |access-date=2022-03-13 |work=SoyChile |year=2017 |language=Spanish |archive-date=2017-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826133604/http://www.soychile.cl/San-Antonio/Sociedad/2017/08/22/483082/Mensaje-de-Jorge-Sharp-en-Twitter-genero-disputa-por-titulo-de-puerto-principal-entre-San-Antonio-y-Valparaiso.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref>

Between 2000 and 2015, the city experienced a recovery, attracting artists, tourists, and cultural entrepreneurs, who settled after they were attracted by the city's hillside historic districts. Today, many thousands of people visit Valparaíso each month, from Chile and abroad to enjoy the city's labyrinth of cobbled alleys and colorful buildings. The Port of Valparaíso still continues to be a major distribution center for container traffic, [[copper]], and fruit exports. It also receives growing attention from cruise ships that visit during the South American summer. Most significantly, Valparaíso has transformed itself into a major educational and entertainment hub, with four large [[Chilean Traditional Universities|traditional universities]], and several large [[Vocational school|vocational colleges]].

While the city is well-known for its [[artisan]]s and [[Bohemianism|bohemian culture]],<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Valparaíso: la vieja y nueva bohemia |journal=Revista chilena de infectología |last=Payá G. |first=Ernesto |volume=28 |issue=3 |doi=10.4067/S0716-10182011000300005 |year=2011 |page=229 |language=Spanish |trans-title=Valparaiso: new and old bohemia |doi-access=free }}</ref> it is also famous as the home of several highly-regarded music festivals and other artistic events. The largest, and arguably most iconic, is the annual [[Viña del Mar International Song Festival|''Viña Del Mar International Song Festival'']] (often simply called "Viña" or "Viña Del Mar"). Typically held in March, in a recently refurbished, 40,000-capacity [[Amphitheatre|amphitheater]], "Viña" is one of the biggest annual economic boosts to the region, as the event usually sells-out completely, and thousands of attendees and workers will travel to and stay in the city and metro area. In addition to showcasing numerous performers of many styles, and awarding various prizes, the internationally-televised and [[Live streaming|live-streamed]] festival is typically headlined by superstar musicians, from both the [[Hispanophone|Spanish-]] and [[English language|English]]-speaking worlds.

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2023}}
Some older works starting with [[Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna]] (1869) claim that Valparaíso was within the range of the [[Chango people]], but clear evidence for this is lacking.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Los changos, su supuesta presencia en la bahía de Valparaíso |journal=Boletín Histórico |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cL19DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA79 |last=Vera Villarroel |first=Jaime |date=6 December 2018 |issue=XXII |volume=VII |pages=79–103 |language=Spanish |access-date=25 March 2023 |archive-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325211356/https://books.google.com/books?id=cL19DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA79 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Bay of Valparaíso's first ethnically identifiable population were [[Picunche]] natives, known for their agriculture. [[Spanish people|Spanish]] explorers, considered the first European discoverers of Chile, arrived in 1536, aboard the ''Santiaguillo'', a supply ship sent by [[Diego de Almagro]]. The ''Santiaguillo'' carried men and supplies for Almagro's expedition, under the command of [[Juan de Saavedra]], who named the town after his native village of [[Valparaíso de Arriba]] in [[Cuenca Province (Spain)|Cuenca Province]], Spain.
[[File:Valpo1830.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|View of Valparaíso Bay (1830)]]
During Spanish colonial times, Valparaíso remained a small village, with only a few houses and a church. On some occasions she was attacked by English pirates and privateers, such as [[Francis Drake]] with his ship ''[[Golden Hind]]'' in 1578<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sugden |first1=John |title=Sir Francis Drake |date=2012 |publisher=Random House |url=https://archive.org/details/sirfrancisdrake0000sugd_f7c7 |isbn=9781448129508 |page=125}}</ref> and later his cousin [[Richard Hawkins]] with his ship [[English ship Dainty (1588)|''Dainty'']] in 1594. Drake's sack of Valparaíso gave origin to the legend about [[Cueva del Pirata]].<ref name=Sonia2015>{{Cite book |title=Mitos de Chile: Enciclopedia de seres, apariciones y encantos |last=Montecino Aguirre |first=Sonia |publisher=[[Catalonia (publisher)|Catalonia]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-956-324-375-8 |pages=196–197 |language=es}}</ref>
[[File:Caleta el Membrillo, Valparaíso.jpg|thumb|Valparaíso before 1846, by [[Johann Moritz Rugendas]]]]
In 1810, a wealthy merchant built the first pier in the [[history of Chile]] and the first during the colonial era. In its place today, stands the building of El Mercurio de Valparaíso. The ocean then rose to this point. Reclamation of land from the sea moved the coastline five blocks away. Between 1810 and 1830, he built much of the existing port of the city, including much of the land reclamation work that now comprises the city's commercial center. In 1814, the naval [[Battle of Valparaíso]] was fought offshore of the town, between American and British ships involved in the [[War of 1812]]. After Chile's independence from Spain (1818), beginning the [[Republican Chile|Republican Era]], Valparaíso became the main harbour for the nascent Chilean navy, and opened international trade opportunities that had been formerly limited to Spain and its other colonies. [[File:Bahía de Valparaíso, 1863.jpg|thumb|Valparaíso (c. 1863)]]
Valparaíso soon became a desired stopover for ships rounding South America via the [[Straits of Magellan]] and [[Cape Horn]]. It gained particular importance supporting and supplying the [[California gold rush]] (1848–1858). As a major seaport, Valparaíso received immigrants from many European countries, mainly from [[British people|Britain]], [[German Chilean|Germany]], [[French people|France]], [[Swiss people|Switzerland]], and [[Italian Chilean|Italy]]. German, French, Italian, and English were commonly spoken among its citizens, who founded and published newspapers in these languages.

Valparaíso found maritime competition with Callao (Perú). Both cities sought to be the dominant port on the Pacific Coast of South America during the period of time known as the High Trade (1880–1930).<ref name="auto">{{Cite journal |last=Couyoumdjian |first=Juan Ricardo |title=El Alto Comercio de Valparaiso y las Grandes Casas Extranjeras, 1880–1930: Una Aproximacion |year=2000 |journal=Historia (Santiago) |volume=33 |pages=63–99 |doi=10.4067/S0717-71942000003300002 |issn=0717-7194 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The [[British Chilean|British community]], ''La Colonia Britanica'', prospered in Valparaíso between the 1820s and 1920s. Firms such as [[Antony Gibbs & Sons]], Duncan Fox, and [[Williamson-Balfour Company]] were doing business in the town, which had become a significant trading center by 1840, with 166 British ships, out of a total of 287, anchored in its port. The British settled on Cerro Alegre (Mount Pleasant) and Cerro Concepción. The Association of Voluntary Firemen was created in 1851, a telegraph service to Santiago was operating by 1852, and Chile's first telephone service was set up in 1880. The British Hospital was founded in 1897, and the British Arch, ''Arco Británico'', was erected in 1911. However, by 1895, Italian immigrants exceeded the British, and both the Italians and Germans were in larger numbers by 1907. By 1920, both the Italians and Spanish outnumbered the British, and the primary British community within Chile resided in Santiago.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Edmundson |first1=William |title=A History of the British Presence in Chile: From Bloody Mary to Charles Darwin and the Decline of British Influence |date=2009 |publisher=Palgrave MacMillan |location=New York |isbn=9780230114838 |pages=110–115}}</ref>[[File:Terremoto de Valparaíso 1906.JPG|thumb|[[1906 Valparaíso earthquake]]]]
International immigration transformed the local culture from Spanish origins and Amerindian origins, in ways that included the construction of the first non-Catholic cemetery of [[Chile]], the [[Dissidents Cemetery|Dissidents' Cemetery]]. [[association football|Football]] (soccer) was introduced to Chile by [[English Chilean|English immigrants]]; and the first private Catholic school in Chile, ''Le Collège des Sacrés Cœurs'' ("Sacred Hearts College") and its accompanying [[Sacred Hearts Church (Valparaíso)|Sacred Hearts Church]], by [[French Chilean|French immigrants]]. Immigrants from Scotland and Germany founded the first private secular schools ([[The Mackay School]] and ''Die Deutsche Schule'', respectively). Immigrants formed the first volunteer fire-fighting units (still a volunteer activity in Chile). Their buildings reflected a variety of European styles, making Valparaíso more varied than some other Chilean cities.

On 16 August 1906, a major earthquake struck Valparaíso; there was extensive property damage and thousands of deaths.<ref>{{cite web |title=Valparaiso, Chile 1906: M 8.2 – Valparaiso, Chile |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/iscgemsup16957911/executive |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref> The Chilean doctor, Carlos Van Buren, of [[North Americans in Chile|U.S.]] descent, was involved in the medical care of earthquake victims. He later established the Hospital  Carlos Van Buren in 1912.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hekint.org/2017/02/22/the-van-buren-hospital-in-the-history-of-chile/ |title=The Van Buren Hospital in the history of Chile |date=13 April 2014 |website=hekint.org |language=en |access-date=20 July 2023 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720172527/https://hekint.org/2017/02/22/the-van-buren-hospital-in-the-history-of-chile/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The golden age of Valparaíso's commerce ended after the opening of the [[Panama Canal]] in 1914. Shipping shifted to the canal as captains sought to avoid the risks of the Strait of Magellan. The port's use and traffic declined significantly, causing a decline in the city's economy. The opening of the Panama Canal was one of the most critical events in the shaping of Valparaío's economy.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvx1ht3b |title=Shaping Terrain: City Building in Latin America |date=2016 |publisher=University Press of Florida |doi=10.2307/j.ctvx1ht3b |jstor=j.ctvx1ht3b |access-date=2023-03-10 |archive-date=2023-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310145114/https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvx1ht3b |url-status=live}}</ref> Since the turn of the 21st century, shipping has increased in the last few decades with fruit exports, opening the [[Chilean economy]] to world commerce, and larger-scale, [[Post-Panamax]] ships that do not fit the Panama Canal.

===19th century===
[[File:Valparaíso - 1851.jpg|thumbnail|Daguerreotype of Valparaíso about 1852]]
[[File:Iglesia de San Francisco de Valparaiso en 1864.jpg|thumbnail|Picture of the [[San Francisco Church (Valparaíso)|Church of San Francisco]] in 1864]]
[[File:Muelle de Pasajeros, 1888 - Félix Leblanc.jpg|thumbnail|Picture of the city in 1888]]
[[File:Rita,_a_show_seller_in_Valpairiso,_by_Adele_de_Dombasle.png|thumb|Rita, a shoe seller in the city, by [[Adele de Dombasle]] c.1847–48]]
On 28 March 1814, the USS ''Essex'' was defeated by British frigates ''Phoebe'' and ''Cherub'' during the [[War of 1812]], leading to the deaths of 58 US Marines. Captain [[David Porter (naval officer)|David Porter]], a survivor of this attack, retired to [[Portersville, Indiana]] and requested to change the name to [[Valparaiso, Indiana|Valparaiso]], commemorating the only naval battle he ever lost. By 2 August 1820, the [[Freedom Expedition of Perú|Liberating Expedition of Peru]] sailed from Valparaíso.

At 10:30 pm on the evening of 19 November 1822, Valparaíso experienced a violent earthquake that left the city in ruins; of the 16,000 residents, casualties included at least 66 adults and 12 children, as well as 110 people wounded. The next day, a meteor trail was visible from Quillota to Valparaíso, seen as a religious experience for much of the population. In 1826, the [[Royal Navy]] Great Britain established a [[Pacific Station|South America Station]] in Valparaíso to maintain British naval interest in the region. It remained until 1865, when it was moved to [[Esquimalt|Esquimalt, British Columbia]]. On 12 September 1827, {{Lang|es|[[El Mercurio de Valparaíso]]}}, the oldest circulating newspaper in the [[Spanish language]] worldwide, was established.

In May 1828, a constitutional convention began regular meetings in the [[San Francisco Church (Valparaíso)|church of San Francisco]]. By August 9, the [[Chilean Constitution of 1980|Constitution of the Republic of Chile]] was fully drafted and disseminated. On 6 June 1837, Minister [[Diego Portales]] was shot on orders of Captain Santiago Florín [https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Florín] at the port by [[Barón Hill|Baron Hill]] on suspicion of promoting conspirators who opposed the [[War of the Confederation|Peru-Bolivian Confederation]], considered a turning point of Chilean public opinion and the purpose of the war.

By 1851, the first fire brigade in the country was formed. In 1852, potable running water became available, as well as the first [[telegraph]] service in Latin America, between the city and [[Santiago]]. Four years later streetlights with 700 gas lanterns, were installed. In 1861, the first tram company was formed, mostly using horses or mules to draw them, and fully established over the next few years. In 1852, British shipping company Williamson, Balfour & Cía was established in Valparaíso to handle trade in the region.<ref name="auto" />

Taking advantage of the total lack of defenses, a Spanish fleet commanded by [[Casto Méndez Núñez]] [[Bombardment of Valparaíso|bombarded the city]] during the [[Chincha Islands War]] in 1866. Chilean merchant ships were sunk, except for those vessels whose captains hoisted foreign flags. A merger of the National Steamship Company and Chilean Steamship Company, the [[CSAV|South American Steamship Company]] was created as a national response to the increasing dominance of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company in 1872. In 1880 the Chilean Telephone Company was formed by Americans Joseph Husbands, Peter MacKellar, James Martin, and the U.S. consul Lucius Foot, the first official telephone company in the country. Three years later on the first of December, Concepción funicular opened, the first of many hydraulic systems. After the country's independence and its consequent openness to international trade, Valparaíso became an important port of call on trade routes through the Eastern Pacific. Many immigrants settled there, mostly from Europe and North America, and they helped include Valparaíso and [[Chile]] in the [[Industrial Revolution]] sweeping other parts of the world. That created a different city with civil, financial, commercial, and industrial institutions, many of which still exist today.

Population increases resulted. The city reached more than 160,000 inhabitants in the late nineteenth century, making it necessary to use the steep hills for more houses, mansions and even cemeteries. The lack of available land caused the city authorities and developers to reclaim low lying tidal marshland (polders) upon which to build administrative, commercial and industrial infrastructure.

===20th century===
[[File:Titulares con que El Mercurio de Valparaíso informaba, el 14 de mayo de 1903, de lo ocurrido dos días antes..jpg|thumbnail|Headlines of {{Lang|es|[[El Mercurio de Valparaíso]]}} on 14 May 1903; in English, it reads:
{{blockquote|The Strike of the Seafarers. Fire of the South American Company. Assault on the printing press of ''El Mercurio''. Fire of the Malecon. Attitude of the Authority. The troops arrived from Santiago. The calm is restored. Meetings in the Municipality. It reaches an Arrangement. The Court of Appeals. The city in State of Siege.}} ''El Mercurio, 1903'']]
The twentieth century began with the first big protest of dockworkers, Chile on 15 April 1903, due to complaints by dockers about their excessive working hours and demands for higher wages, requests that were ignored by employers, creating a tense situation that led to serious violence on 12 May. There were protests and the burning of the [[CSAV]] offices and several people were shot and killed. All this prompted intervention by the state. This protest was important for the future of Trade Unionism in the country.
That same year, electric trams were introduced.

The [[1906 Valparaíso earthquake]] caused severe damage throughout the city on 16 August, which was at that time the heart of the Chilean economy. The damage was valued at hundreds of millions of pesos of the time, and human victims were counted at 3,000 dead and over 20,000 injured. After the removal of the debris, reconstruction work began which included the widening of streets, culverting and covering streams, (Jaime and Delicias–and creating the avenues Francia and Argentina respectively). The main street of the city (Pedro Montt) was laid and Plaza O'Higgins was created; a hill was removed to allow the passage of Colon Street. The damaged Edwards mansion was demolished and in its place, the present Cathedral of Valparaíso was built and, among many other works it gave shape to the Almendral Valparaíso area.

In 1910, the port expansion work of the city began and ended in 1930. A long breakwater was built, along with piers and docking terminals. The Imperial German East Asia Squadron engaged the British West Indies Squadron on 1 November 1914 at the [[Battle of Coronel]] off the coast of Valparaiso, sinking two British cruisers. After the battle the East Asia Squadron stayed in Valparaiso Harbor before continuing to the Falklands.

===21st century===
[[File:Intendencia3.JPG|thumb|300px|[[Edificio Armada de Chile]]]]
Chile's legislature along with other institutions of national importance like the National Customs Service, the National Fish and Aquaculture Ministry, the Ministry of Culture and the Barracks General of the [[Chilean Navy]] are sited in the city. In addition to the capital of the Valparaíso Region hosts the Regional Administration and government. In 2003, Valparaíso became an [[UNESCO World Heritage Centre]]. This title was awarded to Valparaiso for its unique urban form, as well as its clear maintained historical background as a colorful port city. In becoming a World Heritage Center, Valparaíso is tasked with maintaining its cultural heritage, through the maintenance of its historic infrastructure, like its [[Valparaíso funiculars|Ascensores]].

On 13 April 2014, [[2014 Valparaíso wildfire|a huge brush fire]] burned out of control, destroying 2,800 homes and killing 16 people, forcing President [[Michelle Bachelet]] to declare it a disaster zone.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/archive/2014-04-13-chile-declares-disaster-as-deadly-fire-storms-historic-port-city/ |title=Chile declares disaster as deadly fire storms historic port city |url-access=subscription |date=13 April 2014 |website=BusinessLIVE |language=en |access-date=11 February 2020 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116092147/https://www.businesslive.co.za/archive/2014-04-13-chile-declares-disaster-as-deadly-fire-storms-historic-port-city/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In early February 2024, a huge brush fire burned through Valparaiso and central Chile, killing at least 131 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-02-06/death-toll-from-chile-wildfires-rises-to-131 |first1=Alexander |last1=Villegas |agency=Reuters |website=U.S. News |title=Chileans Search Rubble for Wildfire Victims as Death Toll Rises to 131 |date=6 February 2024 |access-date=8 February 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208145617/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-02-06/death-toll-from-chile-wildfires-rises-to-131 |archive-date=8 February 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2023}}
Valparaíso is located in central Chile, {{cvt|120|km|0}} to the north west of the capital [[Santiago]]. Like most of Chile, it is vulnerable to earthquakes. Before the [[2010 Chile earthquake|earthquake of February 27, 2010]], which measured 8.8 on the [[moment magnitude scale]],<ref name="yahoo">{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100227/wl_nm/us_quake_chile_29 |title=Massive earthquake hits Chile, 122 dead |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=2010-02-27 |agency=Reuters |first1=Alonso |last1=Soto |access-date=2014-07-05 |archive-date=2010-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305141640/http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100227/wl_nm/us_quake_chile_29 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the last catastrophic earthquake to strike Valparaíso devastated the city in [[1906 Valparaíso earthquake|August 1906]], killing nearly 3,000 people.<ref>Martland, Samuel. 2007. "Reconstructing the City, Constructing the State: Government in Valparaíso after the Earthquake of 1906", ''Hispanic American Historical Review'' 87, no. 2: 221–254. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed September 13, 2008)</ref> Other significant earthquakes to affect the city were the [[1730 Valparaíso earthquake]] and the [[1985 Algarrobo earthquake]].

===Desventuradas Islands===
The [[Desventuradas Islands]] are administered as part of Valparaíso.

===Geology===
Because of Valparaíso's proximity to the [[Peru–Chile Trench]], the city is vulnerable to earthquakes. The Peru–Chile Trench stores large amounts of energy for a very long time and sometimes ruptures after short intervals in a violent earthquake.

===Climate===
Valparaíso has a very mild [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: Csb). The summer is essentially dry, but the city is affected by fogs from the [[Humboldt Current]] during most of the year. In the winter, rainfall can occasionally be extremely heavy when a powerful frontal system crosses central Chile, but frequency of such rains varies greatly from year to year. Monthly average temperatures vary just around 6&nbsp;°C between the coolest and the warmest month, from {{cvt|17|C}} in January to {{cvt|11.4|C}} in July. Snowfall occurs rarely in the highest parts of the city. In winter, strong winds can lead to [[wind chill]] temperatures below freezing.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

{{Weather box
|location = Valparaíso, Chile (Punta Angeles Lighthouse, located at [[Playa Ancha University]]) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1970–present
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 29.8
|Feb record high C = 31.2
|Mar record high C = 28.2
|Apr record high C = 25.6
|May record high C = 27.4
|Jun record high C = 24.0
|Jul record high C = 28.4
|Aug record high C = 26.4
|Sep record high C = 28.6
|Oct record high C = 30.5
|Nov record high C = 30.2
|Dec record high C = 28.6
|year record high C = 31.2
|Jan high C = 21.9
|Feb high C = 22.2
|Mar high C = 21.9
|Apr high C = 19.8
|May high C = 18.5
|Jun high C = 17.1
|Jul high C = 16.3
|Aug high C = 17.3
|Sep high C = 17.3
|Oct high C = 19.0
|Nov high C = 20.0
|Dec high C = 21.5
|year high C = 19.4
|Jan mean C = 17.9
|Feb mean C = 17.9
|Mar mean C = 16.8
|Apr mean C = 15.2
|May mean C = 13.9
|Jun mean C = 12.6
|Jul mean C = 12.1
|Aug mean C = 12.5
|Sep mean C = 13.2
|Oct mean C = 14.1
|Nov mean C = 15.4
|Dec mean C = 16.6
|year mean C = 14.9
|Jan low C = 13.6
|Feb low C = 13.9
|Mar low C = 12.6
|Apr low C = 10.7
|May low C = 9.9
|Jun low C = 8.6
|Jul low C = 8.1
|Aug low C = 8.4
|Sep low C = 9.7
|Oct low C = 9.5
|Nov low C = 11.0
|Dec low C = 12.3
|year low C = 10.7
|Jan record low C = 9.8
|Feb record low C = 5.6
|Mar record low C = 6.8
|Apr record low C = 2.7
|May record low C = 3.6
|Jun record low C = 2.0
|Jul record low C = 3.4
|Aug record low C = 3.2
|Sep record low C = 1.9
|Oct record low C = 4.6
|Nov record low C = 1.6
|Dec record low C = 7.8
|year record low C = 1.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 0.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 1.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 2.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 14.9
|May precipitation mm = 66.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 106.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 66.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 61.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 24.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 12.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 3.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 2.5
|year precipitation mm = 363.2
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 0.0
|Feb precipitation days = 0.2
|Mar precipitation days = 0.4
|Apr precipitation days = 1.5
|May precipitation days = 3.7
|Jun precipitation days = 5.8
|Jul precipitation days = 4.4
|Aug precipitation days = 3.8
|Sep precipitation days = 2.2
|Oct precipitation days = 1.3
|Nov precipitation days = 0.5
|Dec precipitation days = 0.3
|year precipitation days = 24.0
|Jan humidity = 72
|Feb humidity = 74
|Mar humidity = 76
|Apr humidity = 78
|May humidity = 80
|Jun humidity = 80
|Jul humidity = 80
|Aug humidity = 79
|Sep humidity = 78
|Oct humidity = 75
|Nov humidity = 71
|Dec humidity = 70
|year humidity = 76
|Jan sun=279.0
|Feb sun=245.7
|Mar sun=217.0
|Apr sun=174.0
|May sun=114.7
|Jun sun=81.0
|Jul sun=93.0
|Aug sun=117.8
|Sep sun=147.0
|Oct sun=170.5
|Nov sun=216.0
|Dec sun=263.5
|year sun=
|source 1 = Dirección Meteorológica de Chile (humidity 1931–1960)<ref name=climatenormals>
{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804195454/https://climatologia.meteochile.gob.cl/application/historico/datosNormales/330002 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |url=https://climatologia.meteochile.gob.cl/application/historico/datosNormales/330002 |title=Datos Normales y Promedios Históricos Promedios de 30 años o menos |publisher=Dirección Meteorológica de Chile |language=es |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref><ref name=promediotemp>
{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804195153/https://climatologia.meteochile.gob.cl/application/historico/promedioTemperatura30/330002/2020 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |url=https://climatologia.meteochile.gob.cl/application/historico/promedioTemperatura30/330002/2020 |title=Temperaturas Medias y Extremas en 30 Años-Entre los años: 1991 al 2020-Nombre estación: Punta Ángeles faro |publisher=Dirección Meteorológica de Chile |language=es |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref><ref name=records>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804200357/https://climatologia.meteochile.gob.cl/application/historico/temperaturaHistoricaAnual/330002 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |url=https://climatologia.meteochile.gob.cl/application/historico/temperaturaHistoricaAnual/330002 |title=Temperatura Histórica de la Punta Ángeles faro (330002) |publisher=Dirección Meteorológica de Chile |language=es |access-date=4 August 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|source 2=Climate & Temperature (sunshine hours),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.valparaiso.climatetemp.info/ |title=Valparaíso Climate Guide to the Average Weather & Temperatures with Graphs Elucidating Sunshine and Rainfall Data & Information about Wind Speeds & Humidity |access-date=2010-03-06 |publisher=Climate & Temperature |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126024631/http://www.valparaiso.climatetemp.info/ |archive-date=2011-11-26 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[NOAA]] (precipitation days 1991–2020)<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804200209/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-3-WMO-Normals-9120/Chile/CSV/Faropuntaangelesvalparaiso_85558.csv |archive-date=4 August 2023 |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-3-WMO-Normals-9120/Chile/CSV/Faropuntaangelesvalparaiso_85558.csv |title=Faro Punta Angeles Valparaiso Climate Normals 1991–2020 |work=World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020) |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref>
|date=August 2010}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Valparaíso ([[Rodelillo Airfield]]) 1991–2020, extremes 1975–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high C = 34.6
|Feb record high C = 35.0
|Mar record high C = 33.0
|Apr record high C = 35.8
|May record high C = 35.3
|Jun record high C = 29.2
|Jul record high C = 31.5
|Aug record high C = 32.3
|Sep record high C = 31.9
|Oct record high C = 32.3
|Nov record high C = 34.9
|Dec record high C = 33.4
|year record high C = 35.8
|Jan high C = 23.3
|Feb high C = 22.6
|Mar high C = 22.0
|Apr high C = 19.9
|May high C = 17.3
|Jun high C = 15.5
|Jul high C = 15.0
|Aug high C = 15.6
|Sep high C = 16.9
|Oct high C = 18.6
|Nov high C = 20.9
|Dec high C = 22.3
|year high C = 19.2
|Jan mean C = 17.9
|Feb mean C = 17.4
|Mar mean C = 16.8
|Apr mean C = 15.1
|May mean C = 13.2
|Jun mean C = 11.6
|Jul mean C = 11.0
|Aug mean C = 11.4
|Sep mean C = 12.4
|Oct mean C = 13.6
|Nov mean C = 15.3
|Dec mean C = 16.7
|year mean C = 14.4
|Jan low C = 12.4
|Feb low C = 12.3
|Mar low C = 11.7
|Apr low C = 10.4
|May low C = 9.1
|Jun low C = 7.9
|Jul low C = 7.0
|Aug low C = 7.2
|Sep low C = 8.0
|Oct low C = 8.6
|Nov low C = 9.8
|Dec low C = 11.2
|year low C = 9.6
|Jan record low C = 7.4
|Feb record low C = 6.2
|Mar record low C = 2.3
|Apr record low C = 3.0
|May record low C = 2.0
|Jun record low C = 0.1
|Jul record low C = 0.1
|Aug record low C = -0.1
|Sep record low C = 1.1
|Oct record low C = 2.4
|Nov record low C = 1.6
|Dec record low C = 5.5
|year record low C = -0.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 0.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 1.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 3.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 20.4
|May precipitation mm = 96.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 161.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 89.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 88.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 37.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 15.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 5.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 3.7
|year precipitation mm = 523.9
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 0.1
|Feb precipitation days = 0.1
|Mar precipitation days = 0.6
|Apr precipitation days = 1.7
|May precipitation days = 3.9
|Jun precipitation days = 5.9
|Jul precipitation days = 4.7
|Aug precipitation days = 4.3
|Sep precipitation days = 2.8
|Oct precipitation days = 1.4
|Nov precipitation days = 0.6
|Dec precipitation days = 0.6
|year precipitation days = 26.7
|source 1 = Dirección Meteorológica de Chile<ref>
{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807045622/https://climatologia.meteochile.gob.cl/application/historico/datosNormales/330007 |archive-date=7 August 2023 |url=https://climatologia.meteochile.gob.cl/application/historico/datosNormales/330007 |title=Datos Normales y Promedios Históricos Promedios de 30 años o menos |publisher=Dirección Meteorológica de Chile |language=es |access-date=7 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807045738/https://climatologia.meteochile.gob.cl/application/historico/temperaturaHistoricaAnual/330007 |archive-date=7 August 2023 |url=https://climatologia.meteochile.gob.cl/application/historico/temperaturaHistoricaAnual/330007 |title=Temperatura Histórica de la Estación Rodelillo, Ad. (330007) |publisher=Dirección Meteorológica de Chile |language=es |access-date=7 August 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[NOAA]] (precipitation days 1991–2020)<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807050033/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-3-WMO-Normals-9120/Chile/CSV/Rodelillovinadelmarad_85560.csv |archive-date=7 August 2023 |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-3-WMO-Normals-9120/Chile/CSV/Rodelillovinadelmarad_85560.csv |title=Rodelillo Climate Normals 1991–2020 |work=World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020) |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=7 August 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Cityscape==
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
|WHS=Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaíso
|Image=Cerro Concepcion.jpg
|caption=Cerro Concepción
|Criteria=Cultural: iii
|ID=959
|Year=2003
|Area=23.2 ha
|Buffer_zone=44.5 ha 
}}
[[File:Valparaíso - 20081207-08.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A street in Valparaiso]]
[[File:Coloured Fronts (3927272807).jpg|thumb|300px|right|Many houses in Valparaíso are colorfully painted]]

Nicknamed "The Jewel of the Pacific", Valparaíso was declared a world heritage site based upon its improvised urban design and unique architecture. In 1996, the World Monuments Fund declared Valparaíso's unusual system of [[funicular]] lifts (steeply inclined carriages) one of the world's 100 most endangered historical treasures. In 1998, grassroots activists convinced the Chilean government and local authorities to apply for UNESCO world heritage status for Valparaíso. Valparaíso was declared a [[World Heritage Site#Chile|World Heritage Site]] in 2003. Built upon dozens of steep hillsides overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Valparaíso has a labyrinth of streets and cobblestone alleyways, embodying a rich architectural and cultural legacy. Valparaíso is protected as a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].

Since its status as a World Heritage Site, Valparaíso has made several changes to its urban fabric in the process of maintaining its cultural heritage.

Landmarks include:
*[[Iglesia de la Matriz]]
*[[Plaza Aníbal Pinto]]
*[[Plaza Sotomayor]] including the [[Edificio Armada de Chile]]
*[[Edificio Luis Cousiño]]
*[[Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia de Valparaíso|Courthouse]]
*16 remaining [[funicular]]s (called ascensores): 15 public (national monuments) and 1 private (which belongs to "Hospital Carlos Van Buren").<ref>See also [[Funicular railways of Valparaíso]] for the range of total numbers and active numbers, given from different sources.</ref>
*The Concepcion and Alegre historical district
*The Bellavista hill, which has the "Museo a Cielo Abierto" or "open air museum"
*Monument to [[Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald|Admiral Lord Thomas Alexander Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald]]
*Monument to [[Manuel Blanco Encalada]], first Chilean President
*[[Capilla del Carmen (Valparaíso)|Capilla del Carmen]]
*Cemeteries on [[Panteón Hill]]–[[Cementerio N° 1 de Valparaíso|Cemetery Number One]] (Catholic) and [[Dissidents Cemetery]] (Protestant)

===Gallery===
[[File:Ascensor Conception- Built in 1883.jpg|thumb|Ascensor "Conception" built in 1883]]

==Demographics==
Although technically only Chile's sixth largest city, with an urban area population of 295,918 (296,655 in municipality<ref name="INE"/>), the [[Gran Valparaíso|Greater Valparaíso]] metropolitan area, including the neighboring cities of [[Viña del Mar]], [[Concón]], [[Quilpué]], and [[Villa Alemana]] is the second largest in the country (951,311 inhabitants).

According to the 2017 census of the [[National Statistics Institute (Chile)|National Statistics Institute]], the commune of Valparaíso spans an area of {{cvt|401.6|sqkm|0}} and has 296,655 inhabitants (144,945 men and 151,710 women). Of these, 295,918 (99.8%) lived in urban areas and 737 (0.2%) in [[rural area]]s. The population grew by 7.49% (20,673 persons) between the 2002 and 2017 censuses.<ref name="INE"/>

Residents of Valparaíso are commonly called ''[[porteño]]s'' (feminine: ''porteñas''), spanish for "port dweller".<ref name=nyt-2009nov>{{cite news |last=Gregory |first=Vanessa |title=Tastes of Newly Fashionable Valparaíso, Chile |date=November 8, 2009 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/travel/08journeys.html |access-date=2011-03-18 |archive-date=2010-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123125046/http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/travel/08journeys.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="stgotimes2011-01-21">{{cite news |last=Gabanski |first=Pepa |title=Old Prejudices Die Hard In Chile's Rival Coastal Cities: Viña and Valparaíso |newspaper=[[The Santiago Times]] |url=http://santiagotimes.cl/old-prejudices-die-hard-in-chiles-rival-coastal-cities-vina-and-valparaiso/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093228/http://santiagotimes.cl/old-prejudices-die-hard-in-chiles-rival-coastal-cities-vina-and-valparaiso |archive-date=2 April 2015 |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=2017-03-28 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Government ==
As a commune, Valparaíso is a third-level [[administrative division of Chile]] administered by a [[municipal council]], headed by an ''[[alcalde]]'' (mayor) who is directly elected every four years. For the 2024–2028 term, the mayor is Camila Nieto Hernández ([[Broad Front (Chilean political party)|FA]]). The communal council has the following members:<ref name="Official"/>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Leonardo Contreras Neira ([[National Renewal (Chile)|RN]])
* Miguel Vergara González ([[Republican Party (Chile, 2019)|REP]])
* Valentina Véliz González ([[Republican Party (Chile, 2019)|REP]])
* Dante Iturrieta Méndez ([[Independent Democratic Union|UDI]])
* Jorge López Morales ([[Party of the People (Chile)|PDG]])
* Alicia Zúñiga Valencia ([[Communist Party of Chile|PCCh]])
* Lukas Cáceres Costa ([[Broad Front (Chilean political party)|FA]])
* Thelmo Aguilar Rojas ([[Independent politician|Ind.]]/[[Broad Front (Chilean political party)|FA]])
* Vicente Celedón Collao ([[Independent politician|Ind.]]/[[Social Green Regionalist Federation|FRVS]])
* Jazmin Murillo Jorquera ([[Independent politician|Ind.]]/[[Party for Democracy (Chile)|PPD]])
{{div col end}}

Within the [[electoral divisions of Chile]], Valparaíso is represented in the [[Chamber of Deputies of Chile|Chamber of Deputies]] by [[Andrés Celis Montt|Andrés Celis]] ([[National Renewal (Chile)|RN]]), Hotuiti Teao (Ind./[[Evópoli|EVOP]]), Luis Sánchez ([[Republican Party (Chile, 2019)|REP]]), Tomás Lagomarsino (PR), Tomás de Rementería (PS), Camila Rojas (FA), Jorge Brito (FA), and Luis Cuello (PCCh) for the 2022–2026 term, as part of the 7th electoral district, together with [[Juan Fernández Islands|Juan Fernández]], [[Easter Island|Isla de Pascua]], [[Viña del Mar]], [[Concón]], [[Algarrobo, Chile|Algarrobo]], [[Cartagena, Chile|Cartagena]], [[Casablanca, Chile|Casablanca]], [[El Quisco]], [[El Tabo]], [[San Antonio, Chile|San Antonio]], and [[Santo Domingo, Chile|Santo Domingo]]. In the [[Senate of Chile|Senate]], the commune is represented  by [[Francisco Chahuán]] ([[National Renewal (Chile)|RN]]), [[Kenneth Pugh Olavarría|Kenneth Pugh]] ([[National Renewal (Chile)|RN]]), Isabel Allende (PS), Juan Latorre (FA), and [[Ricardo Lagos|Ricardo Lagos Weber]] ([[Party for Democracy (Chile)|PPD]]) for the 2018–2026 term, as part of the 6th senatorial constituency (Valparaíso Region).

The [[Chilean Congress]] meets in a modern building in the Almendral section of Valparaíso, after relocation from Santiago during the last years of the dictatorship of General [[Augusto Pinochet]]. Although congressional activities were to be legally moved by a ruling in 1987, the newly built site only began to function as the seat of Congress during the government of [[Patricio Aylwin]] in 1990.

== Economy ==
As of 2018, there were 8126 registered companies in Valparaíso. The Economic Complexity Index (ECI) that year was 1.99, while the economic activities with the highest Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) indices were photocopying services (56.79), rental of air transport equipment (54.05), and cargo handling (38.6).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adalytics.cl/geo/5/51/5101|title=ADALYTICS|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=adalytics.cl|archive-date=June 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623104005/https://adalytics.cl/geo/5/51/5101|url-status=dead}}
</ref>

=== Port of Valparaíso ===
[[File:Dique flotante Valparaíso III, en la bahía de Valparaíso (Chile), desde el cerro Alegre.jpg|thumb|Floating dock ''Valparaíso III'' (1985), viewed from [[Cerro Concepción]].]]
{{Main|Port of Valparaíso}}
The first ship to arrive in Valparaíso was the Santiaguillo in 1536, supporting the expedition of Diego de Almagro.

In 1810, a wealthy merchant built the first dock in Chile’s history — and the first of the colonial era — at the site where the building of ''[[El Mercurio de Valparaíso]]'' now stands, as at that time the sea reached that point (today it is five blocks farther due to land reclamation works).

Between 1910 and 1930, much of the current port infrastructure was built, including large-scale land reclamation.

Today, the Port of Valparaíso is divided into ten berths: berths 1–5 are operated by Terminal Pacífico Sur S.A., and berths 6–10 by the Valparaíso Port Company (EPV). The last two include a pier and serve as public promenades and a cruise terminal. In the near future, urban redevelopment projects are planned for this area.

Valparaíso is Chile’s main container and passenger port, transferring 10 million tons annually and receiving about 50 cruise ships and 150,000 passengers each season.

Although Valparaíso hosts the port, the city does not directly benefit from its revenues, as all proceeds go to the national treasury. Furthermore, the municipality has no decision-making authority over port operations or appointments, which lie entirely with the national government.
{{panorama|Valparaíso panorámica.jpg|1000px|{{center|1=Panoramic view of the Port of Valparaíso from the 21 de Mayo lookout on Cerro Artillería.}} }}

=== Tourism ===
[[File:Cerro Alegre January 2012 05.jpg|thumb|Tourists on Cerro Alegre.]]
The unique geography of Valparaíso, where the hills meet the coast, provides striking views from hill to sea. Scenic spots such as the Portales, Esperanza, O’Higgins, and Marina Mercante viewpoints, and promenades like 21 de Mayo, Yugoslavo, Gervasoni, Atkinson, and Dimalow, offer panoramic views of the port city. During New Year’s Eve celebrations, these areas are filled with visitors seeking the best view of the fireworks show.

Walking through the oldest hills — Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción — reveals colonial English architecture, 19th-century churches, and contemporary museums, gardens, and small squares. Around the hills and the El Almendral area are several museums, including:

*National Maritime Museum

*Lord Cochrane Museum

*Municipal Museum of Fine Arts (at the [[Palacio Baburizza]])

*Natural History Museum

*Clown and Puppet Museum

*Municipal Art Gallery

*Lukas’ House-Museum

*La Sebastiana, one of poet [[Pablo Neruda]]’s homes.

=== Commerce ===
Currently, Valparaíso has 3 shopping malls, 4 strip centers, 4 major commercial avenues, and 1 outlet:

*[[Cencosud|Cenco Valparaíso]] (formerly Portal Valparaíso) (Jumbo, Easy, París, and La Polar)

*[[Estación Puerto|Mall Paseo del Puerto]]

*Mall Paseo Ross

*Strip Center Plaza Barón

*Strip Center Los Placeres

*Strip Center Parque Los Ingleses

*Strip Center Puerto Curauma

*[[Avenida Pedro Montt (Valparaíso)|Avenida Pedro Montt]] axis

*Avenida Uruguay axis

*Calle Victoria axis

*Avenida Condell axis

*Arauco Premium Outlet Curauma

== International relations ==
The city of Valparaíso hosts several international relations institutions, such as the Regional Unit for International Affairs (URAI) of the [[Regional Government of Valparaíso]], responsible for analyzing and managing the region’s bilateral and multilateral relations with [[Latin America]] and the rest of the world; the International Relations Units of the [[Chamber of Deputies of Chile]] and the [[Senate of Chile]]; the International Affairs Unit of the [[Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage (Chile)|Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage]]; the International Affairs Unit of the [[Undersecretariat for Fisheries and Aquaculture of Chile]]; the Department of International Relations of the General Staff of the [[Chilean Navy]]; the Department of International Affairs of the [[General Directorate of the Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine]] (DIRECTEMAR); the International Relations Commission of the Regional Council of Valparaíso; the regional office of [[ProChile]]; and the Directorate of Economic Development and Cooperation of the Municipality of Valparaíso.

=== Migration management ===
In the area of international relations and migration management, the main actors in Valparaíso are the regional office of the [[National Migration Service]], the Department of Migration and International Police of the [[Investigations Police of Chile]], and the Municipal Migrant Office of Valparaíso.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://geonodo.ide.subdere.gov.cl/R00/map/502?zoom=4.546135420056858&center=-5999233.776175784,-4241234.315908879|title=Migrant Offices Adhered to the Migrant Seal|access-date=2025-10-03|website=geonodo.ide.subdere.gov.cl}}</ref>

=== Internationalization in higher education ===
In the field of international relations and higher education, the main actors in Valparaíso are the International Relations Commission of the Valparaíso Council of University Rectors; the Directorate of Institutional Relations of the [[University of Valparaíso]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vinculacion.uv.cl/direccion-de-relaciones-internacionales|title=Institutional Relations Directorate 2024|access-date=2025-02-21|website=UV Engagement|language=es-es}}</ref> the General Directorate of International Affairs of the [[Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dgai.pucv.cl/|title=General Directorate of International Affairs|access-date=2025-02-21|language=es}}</ref> the General Directorate of International Affairs of the [[University of Playa Ancha]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://upla.cl/relacionesinternacionales/|title=Homepage - University of Playa Ancha - Directorate of International Relations|access-date=2025-02-22|date=2024-10-07|website=upla.cl|language=es}}</ref> and the Office of International Affairs of the [[Federico Santa María Technical University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oai.usm.cl/|title=Homepage|access-date=2025-02-21|website=Office of International Affairs|language=es-ES}}</ref>

=== Consulates ===
[[File:Consulado-General de Argentina en Valparaíso.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Consulate General of Argentina in Valparaíso.]]

*{{ARG}} (Consulate General)

*{{AUT}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{BEL}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{BRA}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{DNK}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{ECU}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{FRA}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{GTM}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{HTI}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{HUN}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{ITA}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{PAN}} (Consulate General)

*{{PER}} (Consulate General)

*{{GBR}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{RUS}} (Honorary Consulate)

*{{SWE}} (Honorary Consulate)

==Transport==
[[File:MetroValparaíso.svg|thumb|400px|Metro Valparaiso Map]]
[[File:Valparaíso Pullman trolleybus 715.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|One of the historic [[Trolleybuses in Valparaíso|trolleybus]]es that were still in daily service in 2019]]

A [[commuter rail]] service, the [[Valparaíso Metro]], opened to the public on 24 November 2005. The creation of this system involved updating parts of the Valparaíso-Santiago Railway, originally built in 1863. The Valparaíso Metro constitutes the so-called "fourth stage" ("Cuarta Etapa") of Metropolitan improvements. The Metro now connects the city core of Valparaíso with [[Viña del Mar]] and other cities. It extends along most of Gran Valparaíso, and is the second underground urban rail system in operation in Chile (after Santiago's), as it includes a tunnel section that crosses Viña del Mar's commercial district. The proposed [[Santiago–Valparaíso railway line]] would link Valparaíso and Santiago in around 45 minutes.

[[Public transport]] within Valparaíso itself is provided primarily by buses, [[trolleybus]]es and [[funicular]]s. The buses provide an efficient and regular service to and from the city centre and the numerous hills where most people live, as well as to neighbouring towns while more distant towns are served by long-distance [[Coach (bus)|coaches]]. Buses are operated by several private companies and regulated by the Regional Ministry of Transport, which controls fares and routes.<ref name="juts2009">Webb, Mary (ed.) (2009). ''Jane's Urban Transport Systems 2009–2010'', pp. 65–66. Coulsdon (UK): [[Jane's Information Group]]. {{ISBN|978-0-7106-2903-6}}.</ref> The [[Trolleybuses in Valparaíso|Valparaíso trolleybus system]] has been in operation since 1952, and in 2019 it continues to use some of its original vehicles, built in 1952 by the [[Pullman Company|Pullman-Standard Company]], along with an assortment of other vehicles acquired later.<ref>''Trolleybus Magazine'' No. 344 (March–April 2019), p. 68. {{ISSN|0266-7452}}.</ref><ref>[http://www.tramz.com/cl/v/vae.html The Trolleybuses of Valparaíso, Chile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412085143/http://www.tramz.com/cl/v/vae.html |date=2019-04-12 }} (detailed history). Allen Morrison. 2006. Retrieved 2019-04-07.</ref><ref name=mercurio2014apr1>{{cite news |last=Ossandón |first=Javier |title=Diez trolebuses de origen suizo modernizarán la flota porteña |trans-title=Ten trolleybuses from Switzerland modernize the Valparaíso fleet |url=http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl/impresa/2014/04/01/full/8/ |access-date=2017-03-28 |newspaper=[[El Mercurio]] |date=1 April 2014 |page=8 |language=es |archive-date=2017-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701021039/http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl/impresa/2014/04/01/full/8/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Some of Valparaíso's Pullman trolleybuses are even older, built in 1946–48, having been acquired secondhand from Santiago in the 1970s. The surviving Pullman trolleybuses are the oldest trolleybuses still in normal service anywhere in the world,<ref name="juts2009"/><ref>''Trolleybus Magazine'' No. 281 (September–October 2008), p. 110. {{ISSN|0266-7452}}.</ref> and they were collectively declared National Historic Monuments by the Chilean government in 2003.<ref name="juts2009"/><ref name=estrella2003jul>{{cite news |title=Quince troles porteños so monumentos históricos (15 Valparaíso trolleys are historic monuments) |date=29 July 2003 |language=es |newspaper=La Estrella |url=http://www.estrellavalpo.cl/site/edic/20030729102025/pags/20030729122931.html |access-date=2017-03-28 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180616/http://www.estrellavalpo.cl/site/edic/20030729102025/pags/20030729122931.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Valparaíso's road infrastructure has been undergoing improvement, particularly with the completion of the "Curauma — Placilla — La Pólvora" freeway bypass,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.portvalparaiso.cl/contenido/desarrollo_proyectos/acceso_sur.asp |title=Curauma — Placilla — La Pólvora |access-date=2006-11-27 |archive-date=2007-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615123705/http://www.portvalparaiso.cl/contenido/desarrollo_proyectos/acceso_sur.asp |url-status=live}}</ref> which will allow trucks to go directly to the port facility over a modern highway and through tunnels, without driving through the historic and already congested downtown streets. In addition, roads to link Valparaíso to San Antonio, Chile's second-largest port, and the coastal towns in between (Laguna Verde, Quintay, Algarrobo, and Isla Negra, for example), are also under construction. Travel between Valparaíso and Santiago takes about 80 minutes via a modern toll highway.

Internal passenger air services to Valparaíso are provided through the airport at [[Quintero]] which is some distance from the city but now served by good roads. The great majority of foreign visitors arrive through Santiago or on cruise liners.
[[File:Ascensor Polanco Superior.jpg|thumb|[[Polanco Lift]]]]
[[File:Ascensor Artillería.jpg|thumb|[[Artillería funicular railway]]]]

===Funiculars===
{{Main|Funiculars of Valparaíso}}

Because of the slopes of the hills, many of the surrounding areas of Valparaíso are inaccessible by public transport. That is why "elevators" serve the function of communicating the high part of the city with the [[Plan de Valparaíso|plan]], besides being a strong holiday highlight. The only [[elevator]] that can truly be called as such, is the ''[[Polanco Lift|Ascensor Polanco]]'', because it is vertical. Meanwhile, the rest are cable cars but traditionally called elevators. Several of those [[funicular]]s – locally called ''ascensores'' – provide public transport service between the central area and the lower slopes of the surrounding hills,<ref name="juts2009"/> the first of which ([[Ascensor Concepción]], also known as Ascensor Turri) opened in 1883, operated by steam, is still in service.<ref name="merc-4Apr2019-ascensor">{{cite news |last1=Paredas R. |first1=Alexis |title=El ascensor más antiguo del Puerto reabre con marcha blanca y gratuito |trans-title=The oldest funicular in Valparaíso reopens with commissioning and free service |language=es |url=http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl/impresa/2019/04/04/full/cuerpo-principal/4/ |access-date=2019-04-07 |work=[[El Mercurio de Valparaíso|El Mercurio]] |date=4 April 2019 |page=4 |archive-date=2019-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404132107/http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl/impresa/2019/04/04/full/cuerpo-principal/4/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="morrison">Morrison, Allen (1992). [http://www.tramz.com/cl/tto/a.html ''The Tramways of Chile''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603231146/http://www.tramz.com/cl/tto/a.html |date=2019-06-03 }}, pp. 31–32. New York: Bonde Press. {{ISBN|0-9622348-2-6}}.</ref><ref>[http://www.capitalcultural.cl/p4_cc/site/artic/20050128/pags/20050128110853.html Ascensor Concepción] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925222810/http://www.capitalcultural.cl/p4_cc/site/artic/20050128/pags/20050128110853.html |date=2013-09-25 }} (Spanish). Capital Cultural. Retrieved 2010-09-08.</ref> The Cerro Cordillera elevator was built in 1887. As many as 28 different funicular railways have served Valparaíso at one time or another, of which 14 were still in operation in 1992<ref name="morrison"/> and still around 12 in 2010.
[[File:Ascensor Conception.jpg|thumb|Ascensor Conception- built 1883]]
Valparaíso has fifteen lifts declared Historical Monuments by the National Monuments Council. Five are municipal property and the remaining belong to four private companies. The elevators are elevators municipal Baron, El Peral, Polanco, Queen Victoria and St. Augustine. As for the rest, lifts Florida, Butterflies and Nuns are owned by the National Elevator Company SA; Artillery, Concepción and Mountains belong to the Society of Mechanical Lifts Valparaíso Holy Spirit, Larraín and Villaseca (stopped for repairs) are the property of Valparaíso Elevators Company SA, and Dairy (stopped by fire) belongs to the Society of Dairy Cerro Lifts Ltd.

As a part of its 2003 declaration as a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]], Valparaíso has promised to replace and maintain its several funiculars. The funiculars were identified as an important cultural artifact.

===Valparaíso public transportation statistics===
The average amount of time people spend commuting with public transit in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, for example to and from work, on a weekday is 68 min. 15% of public transit riders, ride for more than 2 hours every day. The average amount of time people wait at a stop or station for public transit is 13 min, while 15% of riders wait for over 20 minutes on average every day. The average distance people usually ride in a single trip with public transit is 7&nbsp;km, while 12% travel for over 12&nbsp;km in a single direction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://moovitapp.com/insights/en/Moovit_Insights_Public_Transit_Index_Chile_Valparaiso_y_Vina_del_Mar-3121 |title=Valparaíso y Viña del Mar Public Transportation Statistics |publisher=Global Public Transit Index by Moovit |access-date=June 19, 2017 |archive-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824135429/https://moovitapp.com/insights/en/Moovit_Insights_Public_Transit_Index_Chile_Valparaiso_y_Vina_del_Mar-3121 |url-status=live}} [[File:CC-BY_icon.svg|50x50px]] Material was copied from this source, which is available under a [[creativecommons:by/4.0/|Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License]].</ref>

===Port of Valparaíso===
The port of Valparaíso is divided into ten sites, of which sites 1,2,3,4 and 5 are administered by ''South Pacific Terminal SA'' and sites 6,7,8,9 and 10 for ''Valparaíso Port Company''. The last two sites include a dock and are used as public walks and cruise passenger terminal.

Valparaíso is the main container and passenger port in [[Chile]], transferring 10&nbsp;million tons annually, and serves about 50 cruises and 150,000 passengers.
{{wide image|Valparaíso panorámica.jpg|1000px|Overlooking the port of Valparaíso from the viewing point 21 de Mayo (May Twenty-one), Artillery Hill.
|alt=Overlooking the port of Valparaíso from the viewpoint May Twenty, Artillery Hill.}}

==Culture==
[[File:BibSeverin02.jpg|thumb|[[Biblioteca Santiago Severín]]]]
During Valparaíso's golden age (1848–1914), the city received large numbers of immigrants, primarily from Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thisischile.cl/people/migration/?lang=en |title=Immigration |date=2014-03-11 |website=This is Chile |language=en-US |access-date=2019-02-20 |archive-date=2019-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221112024/https://www.thisischile.cl/people/migration/?lang=en |url-status=dead}}</ref> The immigrant communities left a unique imprint on the city's noteworthy architecture. Each community built its own churches and schools, while many also founded other noteworthy cultural and economic institutions. The largest immigrant communities came from Britain, Germany, and Italy, each developing their own hillside neighbourhood, preserved today as National Historic Districts or "Zonas Típicas".

[[File:Arco Británico.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Arco Británico]]]]
During the second half of the 20th century, Valparaíso experienced a great decline, as wealthy families de-gentrified the historic quarter, moving to bustling Santiago or nearby Viña del Mar. By the early 1990s, much of the city's unique heritage had been lost and many Chileans had given up on the city. But in the mid-1990s, a grassroots preservation movement blossomed in Valparaíso where nowadays also a vast number of murals created by graffiti artists can be viewed on the streets, alleyways and stairways.

''The Fundación Valparaíso'' (Valparaíso Foundation), founded by the North American poet [[Todd Temkin]], has executed major neighborhood redevelopment projects; has improved the city's tourist infrastructure; and administers the city's jazz, ethnic music, and opera festivals; among other projects. Some noteworthy foundation projects include the World Heritage Trail,<ref name="senderobicentenario">{{cite web |url=http://www.senderobicentenario.cl/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040805121740/http://www.senderobicentenario.cl/ |archive-date=2004-08-05 |url-status=dead |title=Sendero Bicentenario |access-date=2014-05-24}}</ref> Opera by the Sea,<ref name="operaenelmar">{{cite web |url=http://www.operaenelmar.cl/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021212726/http://www.operaenelmar.cl/ |archive-date=2006-10-21 |url-status=dead |title=Ópera en el Mar |access-date=2014-05-24}}</ref> and Chile's "Cultural Capital".<ref>{{cite web |author=AyerViernes S.A. |url=http://www.capitalcultural.cl/ |title=Capital Cultural |publisher=Capitalcultural.cl |access-date=2011-04-17 |archive-date=2011-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707005854/http://www.capitalcultural.cl/ |url-status=live}}</ref> During recent years, Mr. Temkin has used his influential Sunday column in El Mercurio de Valparaíso to advocate for many major policy issues, such as the creation of a "Ley Valparaíso" (Valparaíso Law) in the Chilean Congress, and the possibility that the Chilean government must guarantee funding for the preservation of Valparaíso's beloved funicular elevators.
[[File:Valpo3.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Facade of El Mercurio de Valparaíso's publishing building in Calle Esmeralda]]
[[File:Vista interior edificio Parque Cultural Valparaíso.JPG|thumb|upright|The "Broadcasting Building" of the Parque Cultural de Valparaíso (PCdV) which has been established on a former prison's ground on [[Cárcel Hill, Valparaíso|Cerro Cárcel]]<ref>[http://pcdv.cl/web/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RESE%C3%91A-traducido.pdf ''PCdV – Historical Review''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035255/http://pcdv.cl/web/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/RESE%C3%91A-traducido.pdf |date=2016-03-04 }}. pcdv.cl</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Webb |first=Michael |date=2012-10-24 |title=Open City: Ex Cárcel Parque Cultural by HLPS in Valparaíso, Chile |url=https://www.architectural-review.com/today/open-city-ex-carcel-parque-cultural-by-hlps-in-valparaiso-chile |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=Architectural Review |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314194056/https://www.architectural-review.com/today/open-city-ex-carcel-parque-cultural-by-hlps-in-valparaiso-chile |url-status=live}}</ref>]]

Valparaíso's newspaper, {{Lang|es|[[El Mercurio de Valparaíso]]}} is the oldest Spanish-language newspaper in circulation in the world.

The ''Fundacion LUKAS'' maintains the drawings and paintings of the cartoonist Renzo Antonio Giovanni Pecchenino Raggi (stage name LUKAS),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-05-23 |title=Fundacion LUKAS |url=http://www.fundacionlukas.cl/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020523192928/http://www.fundacionlukas.cl/ |archive-date=2002-05-23}}</ref> who came to symbolize Valparaíso in popular culture, in a new restored building overlooking the bay.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-08-13 |title=Cerro Concepcion Valparaiso, Chile |url=http://www.cerroconcepcion.cl/lukas.html |access-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813140652/http://www.cerroconcepcion.cl/lukas.html |archive-date=2009-08-13}}</ref>

Valparaíso is also home to the so-called "School of Valparaíso", which is in fact the Faculty of Architecture & Urbanism of the [[Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso]]. The "School of Valparaíso" was in the 1960s and 1970s one of the most experimental, avant-garde and controversial Architectural schools in the country.

Valparaíso stages a major festival attended by hundreds of thousands of participants on the last three days of every year. The festival culminates with a "New Year's by the Sea" [[fireworks]] show, the biggest in all of Latin America, attended by a million tourists who fill the coastline and hillsides with a view of the bay. Even though everyone calls it the Valparaíso Fireworks, it is, in fact, a fireworks display running along a great part of the coast from Valparaíso, past Viña del Mar and all the way to Concón.

In 2003, the Chilean Congress declared Valparaíso to be "Chile's Cultural Capital" and home for the nation's new cultural ministry.

Valparaíso offers various urban nightlife activities. Traditional bars and nightclubs can be found near Plaza Sotomayor. A vivid guide to Valparaíso can be found in the novels of Cayetano Brule, the private detective who lives in a Victorian house in the picturesque Paseo Gervasoni in Cerro Concepción.

==Health system==
The public healthcare system mainly relies on the Hospital Carlos Van Buren located at the plan and Hospital Valparaíso (officially Hospital Eduardo Pereira) located at St. Roque Hill. There are also several clinics including [[Universidad de Chile]]'s Clinica Barón, Hospital Aleman (due to close), and the former Naval Hospital on Playa Ancha Hill.

==Sports==
Valparaíso has several public sports venues and facilities, including a growing network of cycle routes.<ref>[http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/FCKeditor/UserFiles/Image/ESTRUCTURA_WEB_OFICIAL/TURISMO/ACTIVIDADES/Deportes/ciclovias_grande.jpg Cycle rout] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306231307/http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/FCKeditor/UserFiles/Image/ESTRUCTURA_WEB_OFICIAL/TURISMO/ACTIVIDADES/Deportes/ciclovias_grande.jpg |date=2014-03-06 }} ciudaddevalparaiso.cl retrieved on February 07, 2014</ref>

*The ''Club Deportivo Playa Ancha'' (Playa Ancha Sports Club), located in Av. Playa Ancha 451, Cerro Playa Ancha,<ref>[http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=25 Club Deportivo Playa Ancha (Playa Ancha sports club)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306224414/http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=25 |date=2014-03-06 }} ciudaddevalparaiso.cl retrieved February 07, 2014</ref> opened in 1919 and offers football pitches, table football, basketball and tennis courts, two swimming pools and a small gym. Tennis and swimming lessons are held in the club as well as local tournaments, and the pool can be used recreationally in summer.
*The ''Complejo Deportivo Escuela Naval'' (Naval School Sports Centre), located at General Hontaneda, Cerro Playa Ancha,<ref>[http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=24 Complejo Deportivo Escuela Naval (Navy School Sports Centre)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306231207/http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=24 |date=2014-03-06 }} ciudaddevalparaiso.cl retrieved February 07, 2014</ref> offers Olympic-standard modern facilities with a heated swimming pool and indoor volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, judo, and fencing areas. It also has extensive outdoor sports facilities, suitable for rugby, football, and tennis.
[[File:Entrada Estadio Playa Ancha.jpg|thumbnail|Main entrance of ''[[Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander]]'', February 2011]]
*The ''[[Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander]]'' (formerly Chiledeportes Regional Stadium) is located at the junction of Hontaneda and Subida Carvallo, Cerro Playa Ancha,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-06 |title=Estadio Regional Chiledeportes |url=http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=26 |access-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306230924/http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=26 |archive-date=2014-03-06}}</ref> This stadium has historic links to the local football team, [[Santiago Wanderers]], the oldest professional football team in Chile founded on August 15, 1892. Built in 1931, it holds 18,500 people<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldstadiums.com/south_america/countries/chile.shtml |title=Stadiums in Chile |publisher=Worldstadiums.com |access-date=2011-09-21 |archive-date=2001-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011202094308/http://www.worldstadiums.com/south_america/countries/chile.shtml |url-status=dead}}</ref> and also serves as an athletics and swimming venue.
*''Fortín Prat'' (Fort Prat), located at Rawson 382, Almendral,<ref>[http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=288 Fortín Prat (Fort Prat)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306221248/http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=288 |date=2014-03-06 }} ciudaddevalparaiso.cl retrieved February 07, 2014</ref> is a historic basketball venue, hosting the "golden age" of Valparaíso basketball from 1950 to 1970. Fort Prat has also hosted numerous local handball, table tennis and boxing championships. It offers children's classes and a gym, and is also home to the Valparaíso Basketball Association Museum.
*The ''Muelle Deportivo Curauma'' is located 20 minutes from Valparaíso in [[Lago Peñuelas National Reserve|Lake Peñuelas]] at Avenue Borde Laguna and Curauma.<ref>[http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=307 Muelle Deportivo Curauma] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306231209/http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=307 |date=2014-03-06 }} ciudaddevalparaiso.cl retrieved February 07, 2014</ref> The calm waters of the 195&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> lagoon permits [[Rowing (sport)|rowing]], [[kayaking]], [[fishing]] and [[Pleasure craft|boating]]. It has also been chosen as a venue for the [[2014 South American Games]]. Around the lagoon are camping sites, cycle and hiking trails, and paintball and canopy facilities.<ref>[http://www.lagopenuelas.com/ Ecoturismo Peñuelas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226212838/http://www.lagopenuelas.com/ |date=2014-02-26 }} www.lagopenuelas.com retrieved February 08, 2014</ref>
*The ''Puerto Deportivo Valparaíso'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arriendos &#124; Puerto Deportivo Valparaíso &#124; Región de Valparaíso |url=https://www.puertodeportivo.cl/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=Puertodeportivo |language=es |archive-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314193214/https://www.puertodeportivo.cl/ |url-status=live}}</ref> located at Muelle Barón, Bordemar Centro,<ref>[http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=307 Puerto Deportivo Valparaíso] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306231209/http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=307 |date=2014-03-06 }} ciudaddevalparaiso.cl retrieved February 07, 2014</ref> is a watersports centre which offers sailing, kayaking and scuba diving lessons and hosts the "Valpo Sub" program that seeks to preserve the area's underwater heritage, offering educational tours and expeditions to shipwrecks along the bay. Puerto Deportivo Valparaíso also carries out programs promoting ecotourism in Valparaíso Bay, and rents equipment for people having lessons. It features an interactive room that shows information on the underwater heritage.
*The ''Velódromo Roberto Parra''<ref>[http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=27 Velódromo Roberto Parra] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306225109/http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/ficha_actividades.php?id_actividad=27 |date=2014-03-06 }} ciudaddevalparaiso.cl retrieved February 07, 2014</ref> is located opposite the Club Deportivo Playa Ancha and is part of its wider complex. The velodrome contains a cycle track, table football, and handball and basketball courts. All its facilities are available for public rent.

Valparaíso was one of the host cities of the official [[1959 Basketball World Cup]], where [[Chile national basketball team|Chile]] won the bronze medal.

[[File:Valparaiso, Chile-04.jpg|thumb|[[Plaza Sotomayor]] with the monument of the heroes of the [[Battle of Iquique]]]]
The "Valparaíso Downhill"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-03-03 |title=Downhill bike race in Chile is insanity at its finest |url=https://gadling.com/2011/03/03/downhill-bike-race-in-chile-is-insanity-at-its-finest/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=Gadling |archive-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314191115/https://gadling.com/2011/03/03/downhill-bike-race-in-chile-is-insanity-at-its-finest/ |url-status=live}}</ref> is a mountain bike race that takes place in February. Riders race through the city streets tackling the steps and alleys, finding their own way through the ramps and jumps down to the "plan" (Valparaíso's "lowlands").
The Valparaíso Downhill has been described by Chop MTB as "the craziest urban downhill race of all".<ref>[http://www.chopmtb.com/2013/02/25/valparaiso-still-the-craziest-urban-downhill-race-of-them-all/ Valparaíso – still the craziest urban downhill race of them all!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227003141/http://www.chopmtb.com/2013/02/25/valparaiso-still-the-craziest-urban-downhill-race-of-them-all/ |date=2014-02-27 }} chopmtb.com/ JCW, FEBRUARY 25, 2013 retrieved on</ref>

Since 2005, a series of running events has taken place in the city with 5&nbsp;km, 10&nbsp;km, 21&nbsp;km and marathon distances. The race starts at Muelle Barón and the course runs along the seafront, crossing diverse architectural and geographical landmarks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maratón de Valparaiso 2022 – Sitio Oficial |url=http://maratondevalparaiso.cl/en/home/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=Maratón de Valparaiso |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314204835/http://maratondevalparaiso.cl/en/home/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The final stage of the [[2014 Dakar Rally]] ended up at Valparaíso's [[Plaza Sotomayor]] in the heart of the old town, surrounded by historic buildings. [[Ignacio Casale]], the Chilean winner of the 2014 Quad category, was cheered here in the streets by the Valparaíso crowd.<ref>[http://www.24horas.cl/deportes/dakar2014/article1035797.ece Minuto a Minuto El Rally Dakar 2014 llega a su fin en Valparaíso] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223002550/http://www.24horas.cl/deportes/dakar2014/article1035797.ece |date=2014-02-23 }} www.24horas.cl/ ALONSO SÁNCHEZ MONCLOA January 18, 2014. Retrieved February 08, 2014</ref>

==Education==

===Educational establishments===
At primary school level, Valparaíso boasts some of the most emblematic schools in the region, such as the Liceo Eduardo de la Barra and Salesian College Valparaíso. Other landmarks of the city schools are the Mary Help of Christians School, San Rafael Seminary, the Lycée Jean d'Alembert, Colegio San Pedro Nolasco, [[Scuola Italiana Arturo Dell' Oro]] and Deutsche Schule Valparaíso, among others. Many of the schools named in the plan are located directly in the city, especially in the Almendral neighborhood.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cmvalparaiso.cl/escuelas-y-liceos/ |title=Escuelas y liceos |date=25 May 2018 |publisher=Corporación Municipal Valparaíso |language=es |access-date=11 February 2020 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809044647/http://cmvalparaiso.cl/escuelas-y-liceos/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition, Valparaíso was the birthplace of many private schools founded by the European colonies, as the German School, the Alliance Francaise, Mackay College (now located in the neighboring resort of [[Viña del Mar]]) and the College of the Sacred Hearts of Valparaíso, that operating since 1837 is the oldest private school in South America.

===University establishments===
Valparaíso has many institutions of higher education, including some of the most important universities of Chile, called "[[Chilean Traditional Universities|traditional universities]]", like the [[Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso]], the [[University of Valparaíso]], the [[Playa Ancha University]] and the [[Federico Santa María Technical University]]. The main building of this last is visible from much of the city, as it is located on the front of the hill 'Cerro Placeres', and has characteristic Tudor Gothic and Renaissance architecture. The city has many nontraditional colleges of varying size, quality and focus.<ref name="universities">{{cite web |url=https://www.altillo.com/universidades/chile/universidades_chile_valparaiso.asp |title=Universidades de Valparaíso (Privadas y Estatales Públicas) |website=altillo.com |language=es |access-date=11 February 2020 |archive-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626012647/https://www.altillo.com/universidades/chile/universidades_chile_valparaiso.asp |url-status=live}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!
!University
!Foundation
!Acronym
!Type
|-
|[[File:Utfsm.jpg|150px]]
|[[Federico Santa María Technical University]]
|1931
|UTFSM/USM
|Private university
Traditional
|-
|[[File:Frontispucv.jpg|150px]]
|[[Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso]]
|1925
|UCV/PUCV
|Private university
Traditional
|-
|[[File:Universidad de Playa Ancha de Ciencias de la Educación.jpg|150px]]
|[[Playa Ancha University of Educational Sciences]]
|1948
|UPLA
|Public university
|-
|[[File:Escuela de Derecho de la Universidad de Valparaíso.jpg|150px]]
|[[University of Valparaíso]]
|1981
|UV
|Public university
|-
|}

==Notable residents==
Valparaíso is the birthplace of many historically significant figures, including:
*[[Abelardo Quinteros]], Chilean composer
*[[Augusto Pinochet]], general and dictator of Chile
*[[Camilo Mori]], Chilean painter
*[[Esteban Orlando Harrington]], Chilean architect
*[[Matias Novoa]], Chilean-Mexican actor
*[[Claudio Naranjo]], Chilean psychiatrist
*[[Chris Watson]], Australia's third Prime Minister, and the first Australian [[Australian Labor Party|Labour]] Prime Minister
*[[Curt Echtermeyer]], also known as Curt Bruckner (1896–1971), German painter
*[[Percy John Daniell]], English mathematician 
*[[Marsia Alexander-Clarke]], American artist<ref name="webpage">{{cite web |author=Marsia Alexander-Clarke |year=2003 |title=Marsia Alexander-Clarke, Video Artist |url=http://student1www.fullcoll.edu/00029861/Marsia |access-date=2011-08-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331045542/http://student1www.fullcoll.edu/00029861/Marsia/ |archive-date=2012-03-31 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Roberto Ampuero]], author of the internationally published novels about the private eye Cayetano Brulé and "Hijo Ilustre" of Valparaíso, Foreign Minister of Chile
*[[Giancarlo Monsalve]], Chilean international opera singer, ''Cultural Ambassador of Valparaíso and UNESCO medal''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl/prontus4_noticias/site/artic/20100804/pags/20100804173336.html |title=El Mercurio |publisher=Mercuriovalpo.cl |date=2010-08-04 |access-date=2012-01-07 |archive-date=2012-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423152209/http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl/prontus4_noticias/site/artic/20100804/pags/20100804173336.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.estrellavalpo.cl/prontus4_noticias/site/artic/20100804/pags/20100804001141.html |title=deslumbra a Europa |publisher=Estrellavalpo.cl |date=2010-08-04 |access-date=2012-01-07 |archive-date=2012-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414231210/http://www.estrellavalpo.cl/prontus4_noticias/site/artic/20100804/pags/20100804001141.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.24horas.cl/videosRegiones.aspx?id=28954&idRegion=5 |title=24 Horas – Tenor Giancarlo Monsalve visita Valparaíso |publisher=24horas.cl |access-date=2012-01-07}}</ref>
*[[Sergio Badilla Castillo]], Chilean poet, founder of poetic transrealism in contemporary poetry
*[[Ernestina Pérez Barahona]], Chilean physician
*[[Elvira Santa Cruz Ossa]], Chilean dramatist and novelist
*[[Alicia Herrera Rivera]], feminist lawyer, minister of the Court of Appeals of Santiago
*[[Juana López (nurse)]], Chilean army nurse
*[[J. G. Robertson]], English singer and actor 
*[[José Maza Sancho]], Chilean astronomer
*[[Sergio Larraín]], Chilean photographer

It has also been the residence of many writers such as the Chilean poet [[Pablo Neruda]], the Nicaraguan poet [[Rubén Darío]] and the American poet [[Marion Manville Pope]].

Puerto Rican pro-independence leader [[Segundo Ruiz Belvis]] died in the city in November 1867.

* [[Jorge Dip]], lawyer and politician, governor of the [[province of Valparaíso]]

==Religion==
{{expand section|date=January 2023}}
*[[Pentecostal revival movement in Chile]]

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in South America}}
Valparaíso is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref name=twins>{{cite web |title=Ciudades Hermanas |url=http://www.vregion.cl/valparaiso/valparaiso/hermanas.php |website=vregion.cl |publisher=Región de Valparaíso |language=es |access-date=2020-06-08 |archive-date=2020-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608111825/http://www.vregion.cl/valparaiso/valparaiso/hermanas.php |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Badalona]], Spain
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Barcelona]], Spain
*{{flagicon|ISR}} [[Bat Yam]], Israel
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Busan]], South Korea
*{{flagicon|PER}} [[Callao]], Peru
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]], Argentina
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou]], China
*{{flagicon|CUB}} [[Havana]], Cuba
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], United States
*{{flagicon|MYS}} [[Malacca City|Malacca]], Malaysia
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Manzanillo, Colima|Manzanillo]], Mexico
*{{flagicon|COL}} [[Medellín]], Colombia
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Novorossiysk]], Russia
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Oviedo]], Spain
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Rosario]], Argentina
*{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]], Brazil
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Santa Fe, Granada|Santa Fe]], Spain
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai]], China
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Veracruz (city)|Veracruz]], Mexico
{{div col end}}

===Partnerships===
Valparaíso cooperates with:<ref name=twins/>
*{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Basel]], Switzerland
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Odesa]], Ukraine
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[San Francisco]], United States

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=25em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.municipalidaddevalparaiso.cl/ Municipality of Valparaíso] {{in lang|es}}
*[http://www.mercuriovalpo.cl El Mercurio de Valparaíso]—Main newspaper {{in lang|es}}
*[https://cerroconcepcion.cl The Concepcion and Alegre historical district]

{{Sister bar|auto=y}}
{{Valparaíso}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Chile}}
{{Communes in Valparaíso Region}}
{{Large cities of Chile}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valparaiso}}
[[Category:Valparaíso| ]]
[[Category:1536 establishments in South America]]
[[Category:1536 establishments in the Spanish Empire]]
[[Category:Capitals of Chilean provinces]]
[[Category:Capitals of Chilean regions]]
[[Category:Communes of Chile]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Chile]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1536]]
[[Category:Populated places in Valparaíso Province]]
[[Category:Port settlements in Chile]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Chile]]