We'll start at Plaza 21 de Mayo, a park in Iquique, in the Tarapacá Region, overlooking the sea, to begin a guided walking tour.
Learn the fascinating history behind Calle Baquedano. Since its recognition as a national heritage site and a “Typical Zone” in 1977, this urban corner has been a living testament 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 dating from the 1880s to the 1920s bear witness to the city's most significant urban transformations. Influenced by Iquique's diverse foreign population, these structures blend with traditional local architecture. The homes and shops along the street incorporate authentic elements from northern Chile, such as porches, verandas, porticoes, 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 constructed from imported Oregon pine, adopt the American architectural style or its variants, such as Georgian, Greek Revival, and Adam. From continuous façades to dormer windows and lookout towers, every detail reflects a rich history. This visual blend pays tribute to the evolution of Iquique.
At the end of Calle Baquedano, a series of historic monuments unfolds, evoking the splendour of the past. The majestic Clock Tower, the Tarapacá Employees' Society Building, the iconic Municipal Theatre, and Palacio Astoreca form an ensemble that transcends time. Alongside them, prominent buildings such as the Yugoslav Club, the Former Courts of Justice and the Spanish Casino enhance the cultural richness of the area, and we will visit most of these places.
We will pass by the outside of the former Naval Museum of Iquique, a Chilean museum founded on May 20, 1983, and housed in the former Peruvian Customs building from 1871, in Iquique, Tarapacá Region, Chile. Its role in society is to maintain and preserve the main historical elements related to the most significant event that took place in its bay in the last century, the Naval Battle of Iquique during the War of the Pacific. The building that hosts it is a national monument in the category of Historic Monument, by virtue of Supreme Decree 1559 of June 28, 1971.
Iquique Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral church, the seat of the Diocese of Iquique.
It was built thanks to the fundraising campaign launched 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 Museo Corbeta Esmeralda, a scale replica of the legendary ship that gave rise to the legend of the hero Arturo Prat.
