Live and in Technicolor: Valparaiso is Chile’s colorful cultural capital

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…