In the region of Los Lagos in the south of Chile lies the city of Castro, which is the capital of the second largest island in the country, Chiloé, with about 40,000 inhabitants. It is considered the third oldest city in Chile, which has been continuously inhabited since its foundation. Before the Spaniards, the people of Huilliche already lived on Chiloé. Castro was founded on 12 February 1567 by the Spanish captain Martín Ruiz de Gamboa and counted in 1594 already about 8000 inhabitants. Today, people in Castro live mainly from tourism, agriculture and fishing. With the beautiful fjord landscape and the Chiloé National Park, the surrounding area is very attractive for visitors, but the city itself also has some attractions to offer. At the center of Castro, the Plaza de Armas with its well-tended gardens, rises the main church of the city, the Iglesia de San Francisco, which - as well as the wooden churches in the districts Rilán, Nercón and Chelín - in the year 2000 together with others on the island was included in the World Heritage of UNESCO. Already in 1567 stood at this point a first church. Also famous are the "Palafitos" pinnacles of fishermen on the coast, which are mainly in the western district Barrio Gamboa on the Fiordo de Castro and in the northeast of the city on the coast road Calle Pedro Montt. Many of these stilt houses fell victim to the earthquake of 1960 and the subsequent tsunami.
Translated by Google •
In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!