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La Sebastiana: Neruda's Valparaíso House

Independence Day (September 18) was the symbolic date chosen by poet Pablo Neruda to inaugurate his new home in Valparaíso in 1961. Located at the top of Cerro Bellavista, the four-storey house designed by architect Sebastián Collado was to become the poet's refuge from Santiago.

He named the place La Sebastiana in honor of its former owner, and today it is an iconic Valparaíso edifice and museum that reveals much of Neruda's artistic identity. The Nobel Laureate had a knack of transforming each of his homes into an experience by decorating them with hundreds of objects collected during his travels.

The lower floors of La Sebastiana are home to a wooden horse from Paris, a portrait of Lord Cochrane, collections of plates featuring hot air balloons, many maps, antiques that evoke different aspects of sailing and the sea, pieces of stained glass, a stuffed bird from Venezuela, a stunning cow-shaped soup bowl from Italy, a picture frame that is also a music box and a clock, and walls painted in pink, blue, yellow, green and magenta tones.

On the fourth floor is a brass bed facing the sea (Neruda did the same with the bed in his Isla Negra home). From there you'll be able to enjoy one of the best views of Valparaíso and understand why the poet loved his house so. The La Sebastiana Cultural Center, which hosts activities such as art exhibits, conferences, courses, workshops and poetry readings, is also located on the grounds.

Featured Destinations

Viña del Mar		Valparaíso
Isla Negra		Reñaca
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