Viña del Mar

Viña del Mar, city in central Chile, in Valparaíso Region, on the Pacific Ocean, at the mouth of the Estero Marga-Marga River. The cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso constitute a metropolitan region. A leading resort of the country and one of the major seaside resorts in Latin America, the city is also a manufacturing center. It is a road hub on the coastal railroad in an agricultural area. Industries include sugar refining, vegetable-oil milling, fruit processing, and the manufacture of chemicals, petroleum products, wine, textiles, and soap.

In the city are luxurious estates, waterfront hotels, parks and gardens, social clubs, a municipal casino and theater, sport facilities (including the racetrack of the famous Valparaíso Sporting Club), and extensive beaches. The summer residence of the president of Chile is in Viña del Mar. Originally the Native American settlement of Penco and settled by the Spaniards in 1560, Viña del Mar was long under Jesuit control. The city was laid out in 1874. Population (2006 estimate) 292,203.