We'll start at Plaza 21 de Mayo, a park in Iquique, Tarapacá Region, overlooking the sea on a guided walking tour.
Discover the fascinating history behind Calle Baquedano. Since it was recognised as a national heritage site and a “Typical Zone” in 1977, this urban corner has been a living testimony to Iquique's rich history.
A Street on the Rise Throughout Iquique's History
Calle Baquedano is linked to Iquique's economic splendour during the saltpeter era in the 19th century. Buildings from the 1880s to the 1920s show the city's most important urban transformations. Influenced by Iquique's diverse foreign population, these structures blend with traditional local architecture. The homes and shops along the street feature authentic elements from northern Chile, such as corridors, verandas, portals, and double roofs.
The architecture of Calle Baquedano: a fusion of unique styles
Calle Baquedano is a mosaic of authenticity and architectural diversity. The buildings, mostly built with imported Oregon pine, adopt the American architectural style or its variants, such as Georgian, Greek Revival, and Adam. From continuous façades to skylights and lookout towers, every detail reflects a rich history. This visual amalgam pays tribute to Iquique's evolution.
At the end of Calle Baquedano, you'll find a showcase of historical monuments that evoke the splendour of the past. The majestic Clock Tower, the Tarapacá Employees' Society Building, the iconic Municipal Theatre, and the Astoreca Palace form a timeless ensemble. Next to them, prominent buildings such as the Yugoslav Club, the Ex-Courts of Justice, and the Spanish Casino enrich the cultural wealth of the area, where we'll enter most of these places.
We'll pass by the old Iquique Naval Museum, a Chilean museum founded on May 20, 1983, and built in the old Peruvian Customs building from 1871, located in Iquique, Tarapacá Region, Chile. Its role in society is to maintain and preserve the main historical elements related to the main event that occurred in the last century in its bay, the Naval Combat of Iquique during the Pacific War. The building that houses it is a national monument in the category of Historic Monument, by virtue of Supreme Decree 1559 of June 28, 1971.
The Cathedral of Iquique is a Catholic cathedral church, the seat of the Diocese of Iquique.
It was built thanks to the fundraising campaign initiated by the apostolic vicar Camilo Ortúzar, after the parish church of Iquique was destroyed by a fire on May 10, 1833.
If you still have the energy to walk, we'll end up outside the Corbeta Esmeralda Museum, which is a scale replica of the epic ship that gave rise to the legend of the hero Arturo Prat.
