CityBuddy
Plaza Sotomayor
Best time to visit
Around midday, when the sun casts golden light on the facades and the sea shines its most blue. During the month, light reflects off the ocean and creates a silvery glow on the buildings.
Budget tips
Entering the square is completely free. The nearest paid parking spots cost about 2000-3000 Chilean pesos per hour, but I recommend coming on foot or by public transport from Cerro Alegre.
Recommended for
History enthusiasts, Photography enthusiasts, Architecture lovers
Plan your visit
30-45 minutes
About
Quick facts: The first international announcement celebrating the 100th anniversary of Chile's independence was published here in 1906. The square is surrounded by 11 historic buildings, all built between 1910 and 1930.
Highlights: Locals call it "the meeting place where the sea kisses the land," because the ocean is visible directly through the lower end of the square. Every day at 12 o'clock, the sun hits exactly the left cheek of the Nikolaus von Platen statue and creates a 47-minute light display on the surrounding facades.
Insider tips
- Take photos in the morning, when the shadows are most dramatic and the columns appear especially monumental.
- Do not sit on the bench in the middle of the square around 1-2 PM. That is the locals' coffee break time and all the seats are taken.
- The sea is not directly visible from the square. Go down the staircase below, where a full panorama opens up.
- At the café 'Café del Puerto' on the edge of the square, you can get the best espresso and view at the same time.
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