La Serena

La Serena is an agricultural, historical and economical important seaside city 400 km north of Santiago. It was founded in 1544, making it one of Chile's oldest post-Columbian cities. La Serena has always been an important silver and copper center and the city had its own mint. There are many colonial buildings in town, as well as some interesting museums. La Serena boasts a string of beautiful beaches named El Faro, Los Fuertes, Mansa, Blanca, La Barca, Cuatro Esquinas, La Marina, El Pescador, El Corsario, Hipocampo, Las Gaviotas and Canto del Agua. The most famous beach is 'Morrillos' though. It has 25 km (16 mi) of sand and dunes. The surrounding countryside has some quaint villages and vineyards and is excellent for biking and hiking.

La Serena is home to numerous churches boasting many different styles of belfries, which gave the city its nickname of 'the city of the belfries'. One of the mostimportant churches is the Neoclassical Church Cathedral of La Serena. It was constructed over a period from 1844 and 1856.

There are countless hotels, café's and restaurants in La Serena.