Last Updated on June 12, 2022
Valparaiso is the polar opposite of the nearby capital, Santiago.
Santiago, even though only a couple of hours away from the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Andes, is a flat city populated by modern mountains of steel. Massive office buildings and condominium complexes give the center of the 7-million strong city a powerful, global feel. While there is plenty of art and architecture to be seen, from atop San Cristobal hill looking down, Santiago’s color scheme is more a range of sepia tones.
Just 120 kilometers west on the Pacific Ocean, you find almost the opposite in Chile’s cultural capital of Valparaiso, where color explodes along the rows of houses lining rows up the 45 rolling hills of this bohemian city. An alternative streak runs deep in this port city once populated by sailors and adventurers from around the world, most of whom settled here in the 19th century. Today this ingrained counter culture can be seen in the intelligent, creative street art tattooed on the already colorful houses.
Not just the houses, but the entire city is bursting with colorful life, from the green trolley buses…
…to the boats and ships lining the harbor…
These amazing cars hung out to ‘dry’ on the line…
Signs on the houses (this one sells delicious alfajores, which are layers of cookies and dulce de leche dipped and bathed in chocolate…)
Even our feline friends seem to be more colorful…
Door knobs like this one…
and this little guy?
The city’s many, many stairs are often used as canvases, too…
And we’re not sure what look this guy was going for, but this is his private home…
We’ll leave you with more images of our favorite street art in Valparaiso…
Which street art in Valparaiso is your favorite? Share in the comments below…
My Favourite South American Street Art - Indefinite Adventure
Monday 22nd of December 2014
[…] scenes of places I travel. Although we didn’t get to see some of the more famous ones, like Valparaíso in Chile and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, there were plenty of cities and towns we visited during […]
Reflections on 10 Months in South America…and What’s Next? : Indefinite Adventure
Saturday 23rd of November 2013
[…] What for? We love cities, and especially ones that don’t necessarily have lots of big name sights, which is exactly what we’d heard about Santiago. Valparaíso is a coastal city full of funiculars, and I have an unnatural love for funiculars! It also seems to have a really cool street art scene. […]
Sam
Saturday 2nd of March 2013
Wow, amazing! Can't wait to see it; hopefully it's still bright and sunny by the time we get there in the autumn.
Dani
Monday 4th of March 2013
Thanks, Sam! I hope you'll still have amazing weather when you get there - we sure were lucky with 7 days of sunshine and bright blue skies :)d
Rease
Friday 1st of March 2013
I am obsessed with those hanging cars and all the painted stairs! Every time I see photos of Valparaiso I become more convinced that I must see this city.
Dani
Friday 1st of March 2013
You have to go one day, Rease - it's our favorite city in chile (so far, at least!) So much color everywhere and we loved the vibe there.
Jam @icoSnap
Thursday 28th of February 2013
This city is indeed very colorful :)
Dani
Thursday 28th of February 2013
Yes, so full of color and such a great vibe, too! Loved Valparaiso :)