These days, I am researching some useful basic information for Valparaiso (Chile) for another course this semester. During the research stage, I find that this city is a really interesting choice to share with you guys at here.
Former 1536, Valparaiso was just a small fishing village along the Atlantic Ocean, Changos was the original residents at here. The first foreign settlement happened at here after Spanish found Valparaiso in 1536. Since then, this city grew extremely became one of the most important stopover between Atlantic ocean and Pacific ocean. At the end of 19th, Valparaiso became the major port in Chile, and whole South America.
However, after opening Panama Canal in 20th century, the speed of development in Valparaiso became slowly. Valparaiso lost its competitive advances and benefits year by year. After 20th century, Valparaiso became the underdevelopment city with higher unemployment rate above national average, poverty indicators issues, and low economy performance.
Nevertheless, Valparaiso still keeps its 19th urban characteristics. Therefore, UNESCO recorded Valparaiso into World Heritage List in 2003. The reasons for this decision was ' The colonial city of Valparaíso presents an excellent example of late 19th-century urban and architectural development in Latin America. In its natural amphitheatre-like setting, the city is characterized by a vernacular urban fabric adapted to the hillsides that are dotted with a great variety of church spires. It contrasts with the geometrical layout utilized in the plain. The city has well preserved its interesting early industrial infrastructures, such as the numerous ‘elevators’ on the steep hillsides.'(UNESCO, 2003).
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| UNESCO 2003 |
This colourful city has clearly urban layout mainly around two focal points, the seaport with the commercial centre, and the Almendral beach area with farmhouses and small businesses. The costal narrow plain was first site for city urban form. But after heavy earthquake happened in 1730, new settlement decided to move on the hillsides. Then, the new beautiful natural amphitheatre formed. The city expanded, the chain of hills was connected by the Cintura highway some 100m above the sea.
The beautiful urban layout should be marked to show us seaside city's main character.
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