Children International

“Viña encanta” or Enchanted Viña, so went an old advertising slogan to promote the city of Viña del Mar and attract visitors to the so-called Tourism Capital of Chile. And it’s true; Viña del Mar really does enchant its visitors. Its residents, its beautiful beaches, green areas and museums make the city a preferred destination for many international and Chilean tourists. However, what the old slogan didn’t consider was that Viña del Mar doesn’t just enchant people due to its beauty, but also because the city itself is enchanted. You only have to talk to one resident of Viña to learn some really “enchanting” stories.

One story goes that in 1906 Don Fernando Riojo, a member of the old aristocracy of Viña del Mar, decided to buy a 40,000 square meter plot of land (just steps away from Children International’s central office in Chile). He then commissioned the construction of a luxurious home which was completed in 1910.

The legends says that shortly thereafter Fernando Riojo married off one of his daughters to a Spanish nobleman, but she was immediately returned because it was said that the beautiful young woman had had a previous romantic relationship with the family’s coachman – a coachman who was never heard from again after the incident.

Don Fernando Rioja, disgraced by the situation, died in 1922 in the palace that now carries his name. Countless witnesses say that they have seen his ghost wandering through the rooms dressed just as he would have in those times. His presence has also made itself known in the Musical Conservatory located on the same grounds. “The Riojo Palace’s piano plays without anyone touching it,” commented an unidentified witness.

Today the Riojo Palace is a museum, where you can step back into time and walk the halls of the home and see the delights of 1900’s Chile. On your next visit to Viña del Mar, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Riojo Palace. Surely a friend from beyond will be waiting to welcome you in, or maybe Fernando Riojo himself will show you around and teach you the museum’s secrets...