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House museum · Valparaíso, Valparaíso
La Sebastiana
Pablo Neruda's house in Valparaíso, on Cerro Bellavista: narrow floors like a ship, the poet's collections and windows over the bay.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About La Sebastiana
La Sebastiana is one of Pablo Neruda's three houses open to visitors in Chile. The poet bought the unfinished property in 1959 and inaugurated it in 1961 with a party. The house was named after Sebastián Collado, the Spanish builder who had started it.
The building rises in narrow, stacked floors on the slope and resembles a ship anchored on the hill. Neruda added an attic, painted the walls in bold colors and opened round windows, like portholes, to look out over the port.
The rooms hold objects he collected: plates decorated with balloons, a portrait of Lord Cochrane, an Italian terrine shaped like a cow, a stuffed bird brought from Venezuela and a map of Patagonia painted by María Martner. The Fundación Pablo Neruda has run the house as a museum since 1992.
The visit is self-paced with an audio guide, climbing and descending narrow staircases. From the top floor you can see the whole bay, from Playa Ancha to Viña del Mar.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About one to one and a half hours, including the garden and the café.
Best time
On weekdays and early in the day, when the line is shorter. It usually closes on Mondays; check before you go. Clear days show the bay as far as Viña.
How to get there
By taxi or by minibus that goes up Avenida Alemania. On foot, from Museo a Cielo Abierto it's about a ten-minute climb up Calle Ferrari.
Tip
Book tickets in advance in summer when demand is high. The internal staircases are narrow and steep; large backpacks are left in the cloakroom.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about La Sebastiana
Is the visit to La Sebastiana guided?
The visit is done with audio included in the ticket, available in several languages, and each visitor goes at their own pace.
How many Neruda houses are there in Chile?
Three open to the public: La Chascona in Santiago, Isla Negra on the coast, and La Sebastiana in Valparaíso.
Can you walk from La Sebastiana to Museo a Cielo Abierto?
Yes. Both are on the same hill, and the walk down from one to the other takes only a few minutes via Ferrari and Pasteur streets.