Plaza Sotomayor: Heart of Valparaíso

Plaza Sotomayor, originally named Plaza de la Aduana, has evolved through various names to honor Rafael Sotomayor, a prominent 19th-century minister. This plaza is the most important civic square in Valparaíso. The plaza is home to the Monument to the Heroes of Iquique, a tribute to the Chilean sailors who fought in the Battle of Iquique and the Battle of Punta Gruesa. The monument marks a mausoleum containing the remains of the fallen and survivors of the battle.Facing the plaza is the building that once housed the Intendencia de Valparaíso, which is now the headquarters of the Chilean Navy. Other significant buildings surrounding the plaza include those used by the CSAV and the National Council of Culture and the Arts. The square also has an archaeological center with the remains of the port's first fiscal dock, constructed from the remains of the frigate Esmeralda.In 2004, the square's design was extended to the Prat Wharf, creating a tourist-friendly walkway for embarking on sea tours of Valparaíso. The Prat Wharf features a replica of the Santiaguillo, the first Spanish vessel to dock in Quintil Bay. The First Company “Bomba Americana” and the Second Company “Bomba Germania” are in the eastern sector of the square. Declared a Zona Típica (historic district) on January 23, 1979, Plaza Sotomayor and its surrounding buildings stand as a reminder of Valparaíso's past.