or La Serena, a seaport-town of Chile, capital of a department of the same name, situated on the Coquimbo, in S. Lat. 29. 53. 43.; W. Long. 71. 18. 40. It is a regularly laid out and clean-looking town, interspersed with numerous gardens; but the houses, which are built of sun-dried brick, seldom exceed the height of one story. The harbour, one of the best in Chile, is much frequented; being well sheltered and capacious, and of depth sufficient to admit large vessels. Pop. about 10,000. (See CHILE.)