Lumaco
The name means ‘stream of the luma’ in the Mapuche language. Lumaco is 120 km northeast of Temuco and 52 km from Angol. It borders Purén and Los Sauces to the north, Traiguén and Galvarino to the east, Imperial and Carahue to the south and Tirúa and Contulmo to the west.
This area is rich culturally because the Mapuche people and the Italian settlers, who began to arrive in 1904 from the Italian region of Emilia Romanga, have co-existed here.
The majority of the population lives in the rural sector, which is why production is mainly centered on agriculture and forestry.
Lumaco’s climate exhibits Patagonian maritime humidity, which appears in the Pichi Pellahuén sector of the dry coast’s agro-ecological area.
Historic Attractions in Lumaco
Monte Calvario
The point of entry for Italian immigrants to Lumaco before the allocation of property to each colonial family. Located 2 km from Capitán Pastene, on the road to Chanco.
Curalaba
Site of the battle of Curalaba, where Gobernador García Oñez de Loyola and his army were massacred when they were ambushed by Mapuche indians, led by Pelantaru and Paillamapu, on the banks of the Río Lumaco.
Capitán Pastene
This town is located west of Lumaco in the foothills of the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta.
The founding of the town is linked to the history of the hundreds of Italian families who left their country to come and live in the south of Chile. These colonists came from Modena, Italy and began to settle in Lumaco from 1904 onwards.
The town was founded on March 11, 1905 with the name “New Italy”. Later the site of town was moved and it took the official name of Capitán Pastene as a tribute to the illustrious Italian sailor, Juan Bautista Pastene, Pedro de Valdivia’s right-hand man. Valdivia gave him the title of Admiral.
Tourist Attractions in Lumaco
You can visit bathing beaches on the rivers Pellahuén and Relún, on the road to Tirúa and Los Mellizos. Also, Capitán Pastene now has a beautiful municipal swimming pool, which makes recreation and swimming available for the inhabitants of the town.
Iglesia de San Felipe de Neri
The church dates from 1943; however, it was not inaugurated until 11 years later on the date celebrating the 50th anniversary of the colonists’ arrival in Chile.
Cristo de los Copihues
The figure of Christ is built into the mountainside on the road to Los Laureles, 2 km from Capitán Pastene. It is a beautiful place for a pilgrimage because there are always fresh copihues in Christ’s hands.
Gruta de la Virgen María
Located north of Lumaco. It is a place for reflection and prayer, where religious festivals in honor of the Virgin are held.
Piedra Santa
An attractive place of the “religious pagan” variety, a site much visited by pilgrims, especially on January 20 and March 20.
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