Edificio Armada de Chile (Chilean Navy Building), Valparaiso

The Chilean Navy Building is an architectural masterpiece. Designed in an eclectic style with Renaissance Revival elements, the building stands five floors high, covering an impressive 8,000 square meters. Its prominent location facing Plaza Sotomayor and the Monument to the Heroes of Iquique adds to its significance.

Declared a Historic Monument of Chile on January 23, 1979, along with the surrounding Plaza Sotomayor and buildings, the Edificio de la Comandancia en Jefe has been witness to numerous historical and social events. The architectural design draws inspiration from the French Renaissance Revival style, reminiscent of palaces like the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, with added elements of Louis XVI style. The building features a slightly protruding central wing and two side wings, housing a multitude of rooms and halls. The three lower floors are dedicated to offices, while the upper two serve as official residences.

The main facade showcases a blend of recessed and projecting bays adorned with ornamental plaster and cast stone. Crowned by a mansard roof overlooking Plaza Sotomayor, the central wing boasts a facade clock topped by an elegant cupola. The building's color has evolved over the years, initially blue, later adopting a pastel hue in the early 1970s, and a gray shade during the military dictatorship.

Inside, the well-preserved interior features exquisite light fixtures and fine furniture crafted in 1884 by Leroux from Paris. A marble staircase leads to the second floor, where a skylight, supported by columns adorned with relief sculptures, adds to the building's grandeur.