Around Arica

The town of Arica is dominated by El Morro, the giant hill where a crucial battle took place in 1880, during the War of the Pacific. The enormous Chilean flag on top, constantly exposed to intense sun and wind, has to be replaced every few months. And of course there are wonderful views of the city and sea.

El Morro dominates Arica

Chilean flag on El Morro

Enormous petroglyphs of people, animals, and geometric shapes are clearly visible on certain hills.

Petroglyphs near Arica

The archeological museum is a treasure trove of artifacts from the many cultures that have lived in the area. Some of the textiles in particular are extremely fine and well preserved.

Woven cap

There are also numerous Chinchorro mummies, whose importance in that culture is evident in the extensive mummification process.

Topics: Art + Architecture, Chile
 

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