Set on a sloping lawn at the foot of Cerro Castillo is the Reloj de Flores (Flower Clock), a masterpiece of landscape gardening made using an abundance of colourful flowers. This botanical landmark is an actual working clock and was inaugurated in 1962 as part of the FIFA World Cup, for which Viña del Mar was one of the host cities.
Notice the clock’s 10-foot-long (3-metre) hour, minute and second hands. The numbers are created by colourful flower arrangements, which are only 4 inches (10 centimetres) high to allow the hands to move freely. Above the clock is an arrangement that spells out Viña del Mar. Due to the city’s Mediterranean climate the flowers are able to bloom in pretty colours year-round.
When opened to the public, the clock was originally controlled by a Swiss-made mechanism. Today, it employs a satellite system and electronic mechanism for accuracy use it to set your watch. Stay long enough to hear the chimes that resonate every 15 minutes and the musical overtures, which change according to the season. These include Christmas songs and music related to Chile’s Mes del Mar, a celebration of the ocean held in May.
You’ll find the Reloj de Flores in a public square close to Playa Caleta Abarca. Miramar metro station is less than a 10-minute walk away.
The clock attraction is accessible to visitors 24 hours a day. A good time to visit is late in the afternoon, when the sun illuminates the hands and flowers. At night it is elegantly lit by floodlights.
After admiring Reloj de Flores, go to nearby Paseo Mirador Jorge Alessandri to enjoy sweeping coastal views. From here, wander the streets of the Cerro Castillo district and spot a number of impressive colonial mansions. Look for the pretty parish church, Parroquia Inmaculada Concepción. Marvel at the emblematic Palacio Presidencial de Cerro Castillo, which serves as a summer residence for Chilean presidents.
