La Serena, capital and largest city of Coquimbo Province in northern Chile, situated 13 km (8 mi) northeast of the port of Coquimbo and 400 km (250 mi) northwest of the Chilean capital of Santiago. In 1544 a settlement was established at the site of the present city, but the settlement had to be rebuilt after natives attacked and destroyed it. La Serena was one of the locations in which the Chilean Declaration of Independence was issued on February 12, 1818. The town is built on a hillside and retains many of its old buildings, including a cathedral, a number of convents, and an archaeological museum. In recent years La Serena has emerged as one of the premier beach resorts of Chile. Population (1998) 137,409.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. La Serena Information info
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