La Serena, Chile's second oldest city, rises as an oasis in the semi-desert of the "Norte Chico" or "Little North", offering great beaches, a beautiful city center of terracotta roofs, and many worth while day excursions in its surroundings. The quaint colonial buildings, the clear skies, the warm weather and the soft sea breezes, invite La Serena's visitors to explore its streets, parks, and many churches. Interesting visits in the city include the San Francisco Church, erected between 1585 and 1627; the Archaeological Museum of La Serena, with its splendid collection of Diaguita pottery; and La Recova, a unique colonial style municipal Market, with two central courtyards, which offers many different types of charming handicraft, and even the chance for you to taste some of the pawpaw products, which are typical of this area. Amongst the interesting excursions starting in La Serena, are the visits to the Fray Jorge National Park, with its particular microclimate which gives life to flora, which has as normal habitat, southern Chile; the Elqui valley, the capital of Chile's most popular alcoholic drink -Pisco-; and even to some of the Astronomical Observatories which have chosen this area, due to it having the clearest skies of the southern hemisphere.
		© Intrans, 2010