San Fernando

The city of San Fernando has 56,368 inhabitants, and it is located to an altitude of 1.509 feet and 88 miles from Santiago. San Fernando is the capital of the province of Colchagua and was founded by the Governor Manso of Velasco on 1742, as Village of San Fernando of Tinguiririca (Villa de San Fernando de Tinguiririca), in honor to Prince Fernando of Asturias (Principe Fernando de Asturias).

San Fernando was the first city of the Central Valley that followed the great undertaken city-planning started in century XVIII. This large city conserves until today a character on watch for the vast agricultural zone. In the city of San Fernando and its environs you will be able to see testimonies of rural architecture and some remarkable churches.

Tour in San Fernando

From the highway, it is appraised, by on the buildings, the Byzantine cupola of the tower of the church of San Francisco. Declared national monument. Its construction began in 1891 and it has a peculiar architecture. It is closed by spare part. There are mass in his lateral chapel Sundays at 12:30 hours.

Go through the calm City plaza that has a fountain acquired in Paris, in 1870. In his contour you find the church, the Grammar school Schilling Meander (Liceo Meandro Schilling), declared national monument, and the Interior of Colchagua (Gobernación de Rancagua), building of 1915 inspired by the French Renaissance of the Château, work of art of the architect Carlos Cruzat.

Soon, follow the stroll by San Fernando by the Valdivia Street until Manso de Velasco and turn to the left to visit the old House of Lircunlauta (Casa de Lircunlauta), declared national monument. It was the supervisory house of the property that belonged to Juan Jiménez of Leon, who donated the 450 land blocks to found this city. The central volume, typical of the rural architecture of century XVIII, was recovered and is the main piece of the Lircunlauta Museum. It counts on nine rooms, three of their thematic: “the Property and the City”, “Beyond the Roundup” and “Occupation of the Territory”. The schedule of visits is throughout the year, from Tuesday to Friday from 9 to 13 and 15 to 18:30 hours; Saturday from 10 to 13 and 15 to 17:30 hours; Sunday at 10:30 to 13 hours. The value of the entrance is of $500, for minors of 12 years $100.

Continue by the Jiménez Street until Arauco and advance by this block, to return by the Negrete Street until the Chapel to the Daughters of the Charity of San Vicente de Paul (Capillas de las Hijas de la Caridad de San Vicente de Paul), declared national monument. Constructed between 1884 and 1899, it is a brick building finely worked. All the superior edge and its cornices form a delicate figure. Appreciate the details in the entire contour: those of the windows, the octagonal rosettes and columns. The building suffered serious damages with the 1985 earthquake and was recovered during years 2003-2004.

From San Fernando it is possible to visite its beautiful environs. Outside San Fernando, there are two old houses worthy to see. By the way to the Spas of the Skinny one, to 1.2 miles of the passage under the highway, double to the right and, after a row of small rural houses, you will find the houses of Peldehue (Casas de Peldehue). They were constructed in century XVIII, in form of a U and with a bordered gallery of pillars of wrought Fuste.

In San Fernando you can also visit, to 9 miles to the north of San Fernando by the Pan-American Highway and 3 miles towards the mountain range (signalized), the Property the Lingues (La Hacienda Los Lingues). It has a beautiful colonial house with chapel. Inside the home, it is conserved valuable movable and objects of collection and in the outskirts, a deposit of horses of fine blood. It is worth a visit. It is a hotel of 5 stars. For visits, contact previously in Santiago.

San Fernando traditional Gastronomy

In order to eat in San Fernando the best table is in Social Club (Club Social) and Spanish Center (Centro Español); also in Tyrol, way to Chimbarongo are good “tips” in the Large House (La Casona) and In Family (En Familia); in Black Bridge (Puente Negro) the Stone House (la Casa de Piedra), with countryside food.

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