The city was founded by Juan Bohón as Villanueva de La Serena on September 4th 1944 and refounded on August 26th, 1549, which makes it the second oldest city in Chile. At that time, it served as a land and sea link with Peru.It was burned down by the indigenous population and rebuilt in 1549 by Francisco de Aguirre, when it was re-founded with the name of San Bartolomé de La Serena. On May 4, 1552, the Emperor Charles V, King of Spain, conferred upon it the title of city.

The city suffered continuous pirate attacks, particularly by Francis Drake, who opened the route to the Pacific for the corsairs. Bartholomew Sharp, in 1680 and Edward Davis in 1686 terrorized the populace, leading to the fortification of the city in 1700.1920 saw economic growth due to iron mining, which attracted both investment and people, which in turn created changes in the city’s structure. Between 1949 and 1952 an urban renovation process was carried out within a framework known as the ‘Plan Serena’, giving the city its own architectural style called colonial or serenense.

Today, La Serena is experiencing marked development, centered around tourism, thanks to the great variety of its cultural and natural resources, the beautiful beaches along the Avenida del Mar, the fresh air, ideal climate and attractive recreational areas.