Capital of III the Region of Atacama of Chile (27°22'S and 70°19'W Elev. 1300 ft.). With 129,091 inhabitants (according to the national census of 2002), the city of Copiapó is nailed in the cross-sectional valley of the country, formed by the valley of the Copiapó river. The city has an extended urban plant, because it is limited the north by the faldeos of the drawer of the valley and the south by the own river. It was founded officially the 8 of December of 1744 by the governor Jose Tame Antonio of Velasco, under the designation of San Francisco of the Forest of Copiapó, although his real origin one even goes back to before the arrival of the Spaniards to Chilean earth, when inca.La comprised of the empire city and their environs have a great mineral and agro-industrial wealth. The great development of agriculture must to the application of techniques for the use of the water, like the irrigation by dripping. This has allowed that one of the most barren zones of the world, produces the grape of better quality than it exists in the world-wide market.

Attractions in Copiapó city

Bethlehem Church
It was constructed by the jesuitas during the Colony and recovered by the Family Fraga in 1856. It happened to comprise of his residence. Their furniture and saints were brought of France. Much of its beauty is in the beautiful proportion of its spiky tower, in relation to the rest of construcción.

Cathedral Church
It is located next to the Seat of Copiapó. It was constructed between 1840 and 1851 with English neoclassic style. Its construction is of wood with double tabiquería of 1.30 cm. wide, which allows the circulation among them. His frontis has columns and is finished off by a great square tower of 3 levels surrounded by columns. In their interior the shrine and the fronton of the altar are of chiselled silver; also there is an Italian altarpiece of G. Fiorini. The tablets of illustrious citizens conserve in this temple, declared Nacional. En Monument downtown is the Prat site It was the old Seat of Arms of the city, had in his center a marble statue and there were no trees. In 1880 the 84 peppers stood that today exist, settled a statue and a source of marble, French allegory to the mining. In addition it is adorned by four statues that symbolize the stations of the year. At the moment the "Prat Seat" this considered the prettiest seat of everything chile.

The Railway Station
Was built in wood in 1854. It has covered offices, waiting rooms, platforms. It was recovered in 1982 and today it is a Museum of Site, with photographies of the first railroad of South America, that unio to the city with the port of Boiler. Is Monument Reconciled Nacional.

La Matta
Is an important artery in the city. It has leafy trees and historical monuments. As opposed to one of his ends it is the House of Employees of the Railroad, declared National Monument. Its dórica columnata gives account of its neoclassic style. It was raised in 1860 and recovered in 1993.

San Francisco's Church
In one of the squares of the Matta Avenue, is this church. For his construction one took care Oregon pine and cane of Guayaquil had with mud. Who observes without knowing it this, she thinks that she is of cement. It was built in 1872, by franciscanos. In his interior there is beautiful marquería. Next to the church it is the convent of San Francisco of the Valley, founded on 1662.