1º row: Andes mountains in Talca.2º row: (left) Town square of Talca, (centre-top) Catholic University of the Maule, (centre-down) Ancient Library of the University of Talca, (right) architectural contrasts.3º row: Old Intendancy of Maule, statue of Bernardo O'Higgins, BCI Bank.4º row: 1 Norte street, St. Augustine Cathedral, and 1 Sur street.5º row: Nocturnal cityscape of Talca.
Talca (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈtalka]) is acity andcommune inChile located about 255 km (158 mi) south ofSantiago, and is the capital of bothTalca Province andMaule Region (7th Region of Chile). As of the 2012 census, the city had a population of 201,142.
The city is an important economic center, with agricultural (wheat) and manufacturing activities, as well as wine production. It is also the location of theUniversidad de Talca and theCatholic University of Maule, among others. The Catholic Church of Talca has held a prominent role in the history of Chile.
According to the 2002 census of theNational Statistics Institute, Talca spans an area of 231.5 km2 (89 sq mi) and had, in that year, 201,797 inhabitants. Of these, in 2002, 193,755 (96%) lived in urban areas and 8,042 (4%) in rural areas.[3] The city had about 233,339 inhabitants (111,796 men and 121,543 women), according to the 2015 census. The population grew by 15.63% (31,542 persons) between the 2002 and 2015 censuses.[4]
The city played a role in Chile's independence. For example, the siege of Talca took place there on March 4, 1814, and theBattle of Cancha Rayada on March 29 and theSecond battle of Cancha Rayada, on March 16. 1818. Also, on February 12, 1818,Bernardo O'Higgins signed the Chilean declaration of independence.[5]
Talca Province was founded in 1833. This ended the dependency of Colchagua Province. Also, Talca was a focus of insurrection during the revolutions of 1851 and 1859.
Talca was partially destroyed by the1928 Talca earthquake and the2010 Chile earthquake, being rebuilt both times. It sits near the epicenter of the 2010 8.8 magnitude earthquake and suffered severe shaking[6] causing the collapse of much of the historic town centre.[7]
As a commune, Talca is a third-leveladministrative division of Chile administered by amunicipal council, headed by analcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008–2012 alcalde is Juan Castro Prieto (Independent Democratic Union, centre-right).[1][2]
Within theelectoral divisions of Chile, Talca is represented in theChamber of Deputies by Sergio Aguiló (PS) and Germán Verdugo (RN) as part of the 37th electoral district, which consists entirely of the Talca commune. The commune is represented in theSenate by Juan Antonio Coloma Correa (UDI) and Andrés Zaldívar Larraín (PDC) as part of the 10th senatorial constituency (Maule-North).
The region’s natural resource base is diverse, but agriculture plays a fundamental role in Talca’s economy. Currently, common crops include vegetables, fruit, and cereals, cultivated in rural sectors of the commune such as Huilquilemu, Lircay, El Oriente, Victoria, Aurora, and Panguilemo, among others. However, it is the vineyards that hold particular importance, as the Maule Valley—whose main city is Talca—is the largest wine-producing area in Chile, accounting for about 45% of the national total.Livestock farming (mainly pigs and poultry) is also significant, as it supports major industries in the region. Mining, once represented by the El Chivato (gold) deposit, is currently inactive.
Talca is the main industrial center of the region and the Central Valley. It hosts industries primarily focused on processing the area’s agricultural resources. Prominent sectors include paper, wood, plastics, and metallurgy industries, as well as canning, milling, food, and beverage production—for example, Calaf—and meat and sausage processing (especially beef, pork, and poultry), with Productos Fernández standing out. The wine industry is also notable.The arrival of immigrant entrepreneurs (Spanish, Arab, Italian, and German) was crucial in strengthening local manufacturing and trade. Additionally, hydroelectric development in the province of Talca further boosted industrial activity, particularly through the Colbún-Machicura power plant, built in the 1980s.However, several major earthquakes (1928, 1939, and 1960) and the excessive political and economic centralization of Chile around Santiago have hindered Talca’s industrial growth, especially since the second half of the 20th century.The city is an important commercial and service hub. Its main commercial artery is 1 Sur Street, where, along with 1 Norte Street, most banks, financial institutions, retail stores, and major department stores are located. Talca also has three shopping centers (malls) located in different areas of the city:
Plaza Maule: located in the eastern sector, it has undergone several façade changes and expansions. Its name bears no relation to the Santiago-based Mallplaza chain.
Portal Centro: located in the city center, it also houses a clinic on its upper floors.
Go Florida: located in the southwestern area, designed as an outlet-type shopping space.
In 2018, the number of registered companies in Talca was 6,724.[8] The Economic Complexity Index (ECI) for the same year was 2.21, while the economic activities with the highest Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index were Glass Recycling (133.98), Uranium and Thorium Mining (133.98), and Forest Fire Control Services (65.89).
The city of Talca hosts a series of international relations institutions, such as the Regional Unit for International Affairs (URAI) of theRegional Government of Maule, which is responsible for analyzing and managing the region’s bilateral and multilateral relations withLatin America and the rest of the world; the Regional Unit for Investment Promotion and Attraction; the Regional Office of the National Migration Service; the Regional Office of theGeneral Directorate for Export Promotion (ProChile); the Department of Migration and International Police of theInvestigations Police; and the Migrant Office of the Municipality of Talca.[9]
In the field of international relations and higher education, the main actors in Talca are the Office of International Relations of theUniversity of Talca[10] and the Office of National and International Relations of theCatholic University of Maule.[11]Although to a lesser extent, student mobility is also promoted through the International Experience Program of theSanto Tomás University[12] and the Office of International Relations of theAutonomous University,[13] as well as by technical training centers such as the San Agustín Technical Training Center (CFT San Agustín).[14]
The commune of Talca spans an area of 231.5 km2 (89 sq mi).[3] The city of Talca is located 250 km (155 mi) south ofSantiago,[5] south of the confluence of the riversLircay andClaro, in theCentral Valley. The city is bisected by thePan-American Highway.
Talca has aMediterranean climate (Köppen:Csb) with dry summers and wet winters, though it is hotter in summer and cooler in winter than coastal cities like Valparaíso and Concepción.
