Valdivia, Republic Square

Valdivia is the regional capital of Los Rios Region, located 841 km south of Santiago and 1 hour and 30 minutes from Santiago by daily flights. It is one of the most attractive cities in the area, located at the confluence of two great rivers and in the center of a watershed consisting of more than 130 km of navigable rivers, which bring water into Valdivia River's estuary. This river is well known for the water sports.

It was founded by Pedro de Valdivia on February 9, 1552, with the name of Santa Maria la Blanca de Valdivia; for three centuries it was the most important outpost of South America given its river characteristics, and it had to defend itself from invaders, pirates and corsairs. This feature was important for the mid-nineteenth century German Colonization (1850), which meant a strong growth of the industrial activity.