La Serena ("the serene one") is the second oldest city in Chile. The city, located about 500km north of Santiago, has a population of around 100,000. It was founded on the orders of Pedro de Valivia in the 1540s in order to provide a sea link between Santiago and Lima. The town has retained its historic architecture and this, along with a selection of beaches, has caused the city to become a significant tourist centre.