It was one of the primary intelligence centers of the Pinochet regime, with at least 226 people known to have been forcibly disappeared or executed here.
The site was partially demolished in 1987 to destroy evidence, but was recovered and converted into a public memorial park in the 1990s.
The 'Tower of Terror' was a water tank converted into a cramped, windowless prison space where detainees were kept in inhumane conditions.
The park's design includes the 'Wall of Names', which lists those who were detained and disappeared at this specific location.
The site's name originates from Emilio Vasallo Matta, who owned the property and named it after his birthplace in Genoa, Italy.
During the 1970s, it functioned as a 'safe house' where victims were subjected to systematic torture by DINA agents.
Villa Grimaldi, officially known as the Peace Park Villa Grimaldi, is a memorial and museum located on the former site of the Cuartel Terranova, the most significant clandestine detention and torture center operated by the DINA during the Pinochet dictatorship. The site spans over 10 hectares and was transformed from a former country estate into a space for human rights education and memory. It features preserved structures, reconstructed cells, and memorial gardens that commemorate the victims who passed through the facility between 1973 and 1978. The museum operates as a foundation dedicated to ensuring the truth about historical state-sponsored violence is preserved for future generations. Visitors walk through outdoor paths where markers indicate the locations of the original 'cuchas' (small wooden prison cells), the interrogation rooms, and the 'Tower of Terror'. The site is recognized as a National Monument of Chile. It serves as a hub for workshops, archives, and human rights advocacy programs. The current landscape design integrates native Chilean flora to provide a tranquil environment for reflection.
The memorial Wall of Names provides a somber, architecturally significant backdrop for reflection photography.
Download the site's digital map or audio guide resources prior to arrival to better understand the significance of specific landscape features.
Plan for significant time to process the heavy historical content, as the experience is emotionally demanding.
Check the official website for scheduled guided tours or temporary exhibits before your visit.
Do not treat the site as a casual park; avoid loud conversations or eating in the memorial garden areas.
Closed on Mondays. Open during public holidays unless specified otherwise on the official website.
Maintain a respectful, quiet demeanor as this is a site of memory and trauma; photography of private memorial areas is discouraged.
