Rafael, Chile

Rafael is a town in the commune of Tomé, in Concepción Province, in the Biobío Region of Chile.

History[]

Originally a crossroads on the Camino Real between Concepcion and Chillan and Santiago. It was first the site of a mill on the . On October 24, 1657, Pedro Porter Casanate built a fort San Rafael de Coelemu to protect the Royal roads and secure the Coelemu region from the attacks of the Mapuche. Later a Jesuit encomienda and a church were established there. In 1835, it became the capital of the , until the town of Coelemu replaced Rafael as the capital in January 1854. On October 22, 1891, Rafael was made a municipality. On December 30, 1927, it became part of the new Department of Tomé.

See also[]

• List of towns in Chile

External links[]

• Satellite Maps

Sources[]

• Francisco Solano Asta-Buruaga y Cienfuegos, Diccionario geográfico de la República de Chile, 2nd ed, New York, Appleton & Co 1899. pg. 635 Rafael. — Villa

Coordinates: 36°37′S 72°46′W / 36.617°S 72.767°W / -36.617; -72.767