Description of the attraction
Morro de Arica is a steep hill that protects the city of Arica from the south. Its height exceeds 135 meters, and at the top there is a plateau of about 500 sq. M. The hill drops abruptly from the side of the city and the sea. A giant Chilean flag flies at its top, there is also a Museum of Weapons and several monuments, including Cristo de la Concordia, also called Cristo de la Paz, which symbolizes peace between Chile and Peru according to the 1929 treaty. If you look into the distance north along the coast, from the observation deck of the hill, you can see the rocky coast of Peru.
During the Pacific War (1879-1883), the Morro de Arica hill was a stronghold of defense for the Peruvian troops stationed in the city. On June 7, 1880, Chilean troops, led by the outstanding Colonel Pedro Lagos, conquered this important strategic height in 55 minutes.
But now, after many years after wars and conflicts, this cape is no longer a mystical place. This is a place of romance where hundreds of couples gather every evening to watch the sunset. It is at the very moment when the sun sets over the ocean and is lost in the vast blue waters that during these few minutes dozens of visitors to the amazing peak of Morro de Arica can be kept in suspense.
You can drive to the top by car from Sotomayor Street to a large parking lot, which also offers a panoramic view of the city of Arica. You can also climb the hill along the footpath at the end of Calle Colon. Along the way, you can see the remains of old forts: Citadel, Forte del Este, Morro Gordo and the foundations of Moro Baggio. All these coastal fortifications were built hundreds of years ago to repel various attacks, including from pirates.
But what most attracts the attention of visitors at the top of the hill is the majestic statue of Jesus Christ, also called Cristo de la Concordia. He stands with open arms, inviting people to think about a world without national differences. The bronze statue weighing 15 tons, 11 m high and 10 m wide, has an internal steel frame and a plaque. It was designed by Raul Valdivieso and brought to Chile from Madrid (Spain) in 1987.
In 1971, Morro de Arica was declared a national monument of Chile.
