Pablo Neruda was an eccentric romantic, writing love poems that infallibly give goosebumps and lend a new meaning to passion. In 1951, Neruda bought La Chascona in the Bellavista neighborhood for his lover, Matilde Urrutia. Today, the house (in reality, four small cottages clustered together) is now a museum part of the Fundación Pablo Neruda. Inside, visitors will find an eclectic collection of the Nobel-winning poet’s personal items, from a portrait of Matilde by Diego Riviera to odd sculptures and English china. There is an immediate feeling that there existed great emotional connections to each and every item, transforming it into a great love poem itself.
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A Poet's Romantic Hideaway
Nobel prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda built a quirky home for his secret lover, Matilde Urrutia, in the 1950s. He called the house “La Chascona,” her nickname due to her wild, red hair. Neruda is a literary icon in Chile and was a bit of enigma. He built three homes during his life in Santiago, Valparaíso, and on the coast (Isla Negra). He had a great knack for “collections” in his lifetime and his homes are an intimate look into his passions and obsessions. They offer guide private tours in English. Closed Mondays. Fernando Márquez de la Plata 0192, Barrio Bellavista Phone: 56 (2) 2777 8741
A poets home
Pablo Neruda is Chiles and one of Spanish literatures most known poets. He was a Nobel Prize winner and active in politics. He has three unique homes that can be visited in Chile. Each showing his personality, collections, humor, and poetry in life. For anyone interested in poetry, art, architecture, and chilean history La Chascona is worth a visit. While it may not be as large as his coastal Isla Negra home, it is just as interesting.
