Why Penco
Penco is a coastal city and commune situated along the Bay of Concepción in the Concepción Province of Chile's Bío Bío Region. Its name derives from Mapudungun terms meaning "see" and "water." Covering an area of 107.6 square kilometers, the commune encompasses the main town of Penco along with several smaller villages, including Cerro Verde, Cosmito, El Rosal, Lirquén, and Tucapel. Residents of Penco are referred to as pencones, distinguishing them from the penquistas of neighboring Concepción.
Established on February 12, 1550, by Pedro de Valdivia under the original name of Concepción del Nuevo Extremo, Penco stands as the third oldest city in Chile, following Santiago and La Serena. In its early history, the settlement served as the initial location of present-day Concepción and functioned for two centuries as a military headquarters during conflicts with native Mapuche forces. The site faced repeated destruction, including attacks led by Lautaro in 1554 and 1555, a siege in 1564, and reconstruction efforts such as the erection of a fort at Alto de Pinto in 1557.
Beyond military conflicts, severe natural disasters repeatedly impacted the settlement. Major earthquakes and tsunamis struck the city in 1570, 1657, 1687, 1730, and 1751. Following the disaster on May 25, 1751, colonial authorities chose to relocate Concepción to the Valle de la Mocha alongside the Bío Bío River. The original site was left uninhabited for decades until the modern city of Penco was formally refounded on March 29, 1842.
In addition to its historic roots and coastal geography, Penco features modern industrial and economic activity, including a mining project initiated in 2016 by Aclara Resources focused on rare-earth elements. The area is home to thousands of residents across its urban center and rural surrounding communities, offering visitors a unique look into one of Chile's foundational historic locations.
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