Coquimbo And A Visit To The Millenium Cross
The Third Millennium Cross is 83 m3ter tall, 40 meter wide, concrete cross located at the top of El Vigia hill in Coquimbo, Chile.
La Serena, Coquimbo, Chile Friday, January 20, 2017
While the ship is docked in Coquimbo, a visit to the Millennium Cross is a must. It stands as the biggest monument to the Christian faith in South America. This is a monument erected in Mount El Vigía. The initiative was carried out before the Vatican by the Coquimbo Government, and having obtained the total approval from the Pope, the works of the monument that reminds people of the 2000 Jubilee began. Thousands of kilograms of steel and concrete were necessary to complete its construction.
Its base is made of three leaning pillars which form a large tripod. Upon it, the immense Cross made of three columns representing the Holy Trinity is erected. Its maximum height is 83 meters and it is 40 meters wide. The 2,000-steps staircase is the access to the base and the worship area, which consists of a chapel, a museum and a photographic exhibition where different stages of the construction of the Cross can be seen, until its inauguration, in May 5th, 2000. The gifts from Juan Pablo II for such a monument that immortalizes Christian faith are also shown.
Whether taking the elevator or the stairs, the first vantage point located 20 meters high and the ecumenical prayer square decorated with vitraux can be reached from there.
The last stretch up to the vantage points located inside the horizontal arms of the Cross may be visited by taking the elevators or the stairs inside the pillars. From the large windows of the Cross an amazing 360º panoramic view of Coquimbo, its bay and the Pacific Ocean is appreciated.
Two rooms appear in the arms of the Cross: one of them keeps the busts of the Chilean Archbishops during last century, while the other one shows the busts of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Other places of Interests while in Coquimbo La Serena- While it is nice to see the panoramic view up on the arms of the Millennium Cross, a visit to the town of La Serena is worth the while. In Plaza de Armas, the city center is surrounded by old churches, shops and municipal buildings. Also worth a visit are the museums notably the Museo Arquelogico and the Museo Mineralogico Ignacio Domeyco. The former displays Chile's history while the later displays Chile's rich mining history. Museo Colonial de Arte Religioso meanwhile has an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures.
For a whimsical boat ride on the bay, take a tour aboard this re-created pirate ship.
It also has many beaches, restaurants and bars. To go to La Serena via a public bus # 1 from Coquimbo is only US$1.00 per person each way.