Quillota

Quillota square in the Central valley, Chile.

(humedity of the river)

Quillota has a population of 59,806 and an altitude of 426.5 feet. When the Spanish conquerors arrived here, the Quillota valley was populated by natives under the hegemony of the Inca Empire and ruled by the cacique Michimalongo, who settled himself in a place next to San Isidro. From the very beginning the Spaniards subjected the natives to the “trusteeship of Indians” and the lands were coveted because of their good climate and quality.

The Town of Quillota (Villa de Quillota) was founded in 1717 around the San Francisco church. Its administrative territory comprised from La Ligua valley to Casablanca and included the rich lands of major feudatories of the Colony, such as the Family States of the Irarrázabal, in Pullalli; the Cerda, in La Ligua, and of the Azúa in Quillota and Purutún.

The city of Quillota started to develop by the second half of the XIX century when the investors and businessman from Valparaíso acquired lands and built irrigation sites. Today the important project of an Industrial Technical Park is being implemented as a complement to the farm activity.

Wooden carving in Quillota,Chile.

The square is designed with large shades and lots of palm tress. It has a cypress tree (ciprés) fallen after the 1980 storms, that has been carved with an allegory to the agriculture.

Santo Domingo Convent has painted columns and altars imitating marble and where the memorial of “Beatita Benavides” and the Portales patio can be visited. Masses are held on Thursday at 9:30 am and 6:30 pm, Saturday at 6:30 pm and Sunday at 8:30 am and 11:30 am.

In Quillota you can also visit the old San Francisco church (Iglesia de San Francisco), offering masses from March to October, from Tuesday to Sunday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 11 am, 12:30 am and 7:30 pm. It’s next to the small square with tamarind trees (tamarindo). At San Martín 324 is the Colonial House (Casa Colonial), declared national monument. Is the oldest house in the city, dating to 1722. Bernardo O’Higgins stayed there in 1822, when he conferred the title of city to Quillota. It’s a private house that can be visited with previous authorization by the owner.

At Merced 175 is the Archeological Museum of Quillota (Museo Arqueológico de Quillota), with collections of ancient cultures of the area, and at Blanco 241 street is the House and Museum of the Huaso of Quillota (Casa y Museo del Huaso de Quillota), introducing the history of the “huaso” (cowboy) in Chile and in the Central Area. Visiting hours are from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm. The admission is free. Conclude the trip along the city, going up to the Mayaca Hill (cerro Mayaca) that has a viewpoint over the valley.

In the nearby areas of Quillota, with an old rural tradition, there’s the Boco, an area of country houses on the north bank of the river. There you will find El Edén, a precinct of 113.6 acres of park with a good restaurant, a swimming pool and cabins.

Using this same road, you will get to Rautén, where there’s the Cloister Monastery of Benedictine Order (Monasterio de Claustro de la Orden Benedictina), offering masses on Sunday at 12 pm.

Towards the East you can visit La Palma, where the Faculty of Agronomy (Facultad de Agronomía) of the Catholic University of Valparaíso (Universidad Católica de Valparaíso) is located; continue among plantations of avocado and cherimoya trees until San Isidro, where you’ll find the Armored Cavalry School (Escuela de Caballería Blindada), which is the only one among the ranches of Quillota that still keeps all its splendor. It used to be called Los Perales de Atiazo, and then when a chapel was founded in the area its name was changed to San Isidro.

In its interior is the Museum (Museo), inaugurated in 1994. It houses a collection of painting and sculptures, and exhibits the history of the cavalry and its evolution to an armored cavalry. Also, a corner is dedicated to the feat of Captain Alberto Larraguibel and his horse Huaso, when he obtained the world record of horse high jump -8.1 feet-, in 1949, which still haven’t been surpassed. In the chapel, of beautiful stained-glass windows, the image of San Isidro Labrador and the baptismal basin of Ramón Freire are still in place. Visiting hours are on Saturday, from 10 am to 1 pm, with previous coordination with the office of Public Relations.

Among the main events and activities in Quillota, during summer, there are popular spectacles with national and international artists at the Aconcagua Park (Parque Aconcagua) and the Municipal Theatre (Teatro Municipal).

During the last weekend of January the Folkloric Festivity (Fiesta Folclórica) is celebrated at the Aconcagua Park or Municipal Theater. On the fourth week the Finding our roots event (Encuentro con Nuestras Raíces) is held at the tourist center and El Edén amphitheatre.

On November 11, the anniversary of the city of Quillota is celebrated with many popular spectacles.

** Information related to Hours, Rates and Dates might change without any previous notice **