We will start our guided walking tour at Plaza 21 de Mayo, a park in Iquique, Tarapacá Region, overlooking the sea.

Learn the fascinating history behind Calle Baquedano. Since it was recognized as a National Heritage Site and a “Typical Area” in 1977, this urban corner has been a living testament to Iquique's rich history.

A Street on the Rise Throughout Iquique's History

Calle Baquedano is linked to Iquique's economic prosperity during the saltpeter era in the 19th century. Buildings dating from the 1880s to the 1920s bear witness to the city's most significant urban transformations. Influenced by Iquique's diverse foreign population, these structures blend with traditional local architecture. The homes and businesses along the street feature authentic elements from northern Chile, such as corridors, verandas, portals, and double-roofed structures.

The Architecture of Baquedano Street: A Fusion of Unique Styles

Calle Baquedano is a mosaic of authenticity and architectural diversity. The buildings, mostly constructed using imported Oregon pine, feature the American architectural style or its variants, such as Georgian, Greek Revival, and Adam. From continuous façades to dormer windows and belvedere towers, every detail reflects a rich history. This visual tapestry pays tribute to the evolution of Iquique.

At the end of Calle Baquedano, a showcase of historic monuments evokes the splendor of the past. The majestic Clock Tower, the Tarapacá Employees' Society Building, the iconic Municipal Theater, and the Astoreca Palace form an ensemble that transcends time. Alongside them, notable buildings such as the Yugoslav Club, the Former Courts of Justice, and the Spanish Casino enrich the cultural wealth of the area, and we will enter most of these sites.

We will pass by the exterior of the former Iquique Naval Museum, a Chilean museum founded on May 20, 1983, and housed in the former Peruvian Customs building dating from 1871, located in Iquique, Tarapacá Region, Chile. Its role in society is to maintain and preserve the key historical elements related to the most significant event that took place in its bay in the last century: the Naval Battle of Iquique during the Pacific War. The building that houses the museum is a national monument in the category of Historic Monument, pursuant to Supreme Decree 1559 of June 28, 1971.

Iquique Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral church and the seat of the Diocese of Iquique.

It was built thanks to a fundraising campaign initiated by Apostolic Vicar Camilo Ortúzar after the parish church of Iquique was destroyed by a fire on May 10, 1833.

If you still have the energy to walk, we will finish outside the Corbeta Esmeralda Museum, which is a scale replica of the epic ship that gave rise to the legend of the hero Arturo Prat.