The capital city of Region VIII, Concepción lies 514 kilometers (320 mi) south of Santiago, at the mouth of the River BioBio. From 1565 until 1573, it was the political and military capital of the Kingdom of Chile. Although it was originally constructed further north, it was razed by a tremendous earthquake and a tidal wave in 1751, and moved to its present location in 1764.
The great economic and demographic growth of Concepción have, along with the effects of earthquakes and natural disasters, have made important changes in its appearance, leaving few vestiges of its original look. Important figures from the history of the nation's independence come from this city, and the Act of Independence of Chile was read in proclamation for the first time on its Plaza de Armas or Parade Ground. Concepción is now the second largest city in the country and has become a center of thriving industrial, commercial, and cultural life.
A tour of the city must start with Independence Square, with its leafy trees and its central fountain, erected in 1865 of pink stone topped with a statue of the goddess Ceres. Nearby is the Market, built following the earthquake of 1931, with its characteristic florists, handicrafts, and economically priced restaurants. Another site of special interest to visitors is the Palacio de los Tribunales or Court House, with a colonnade faced with marble on the beautiful Avenida Pedro Aguirre Cerda. Further along is the Pinacoteca or Art Museum of Concepción, housing the most extensive collection of works by Chilean painters. Two blocks away, by way of Calle Chacabuco, is the Campus of the University of Concepción, whose buildings are grouped around a central quadrangle which affords a view of the various constructions there, which are presided over by the Campanile, or Clock Tower, which is the emblem of the University.
Another point of interest is Equator Park, inside which is the Gallery of History, housing a complete overview of the history of the region laid out in displays from each era.
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