Valdivia
A River City Founded In 1552, Rebuilt By German Settlers And Again After The 1960 Earthquake, The Strongest Ever Recorded; Known For Its Spanish Forts, Sea Lions And Beer · Valdivia, Los Rios
Valdivia is a green, rainy university city where the Calle-Calle and Valdivia rivers meet, a short way inland from the Pacific, and it has one of the most layered histories in Chile. Founded by the Spanish in 1552, it became the southern bastion of their empire, guarded by a chain of forts at the river mouth at Niebla, Corral and Mancera, whose ruins can still be visited by boat. German immigrants arrived in the 1850s and left timber houses, breweries and a strong local beer tradition. In 1960 the city was devastated by the strongest earthquake ever recorded, which sank land and reshaped the rivers. Today its riverside fish market is the liveliest sight in town, with sea lions and pelicans hauled up beside the stalls waiting for scraps. River cruises run down to the forts, and the Kunstmann brewery on the road to Niebla is a pilgrimage for beer lovers. The coast, temperate rainforest reserves and the lake district are close, and the city is lively with students. It rains a great deal.
Costanera, Mercado Fluvial, Valdivia, Los Rios, Valdivia, Los Rios, Chile
The riverside market is busiest in the morning. River cruises to the forts run through the day, more often in summer. Museums close one day a week. The Kunstmann brewery and restaurants keep long hours.