About Santiago
Santiago is the cultural, social and economic hub of Chile. The city boasts an incredible backdrop of snow capped peaks of over 6,000 metres, and the surrounding vineyards produce some excellent wine.
Santiago was founded in 1541 by Pedro Valdivia after he was despatched to look for more territory for the Spanish crown by Francisco Pizarro, who had recently conquered Peru. A small settlement was soon built but was almost just as quickly razed to the ground after being attacked by the indigenous Picunche people. The town was soon rebuilt and gradually Santiago developed into a colonial capital.
For a long time it remained a backwater town with many Spaniards deciding to look elsewhere on the continent for their riches. However, by the 18th century, the city had become more prosperous as a result of a lifting of trade restrictions. After Chile's independence in 1818, the population increased considerably and many buildings were erected around this time.
The modern city itself is a blend of the old and new. The centre retains many of the city's historic buildings, but outside of the centre, Santiago has become a city of gleaming steel-and-glass skyscrapers, with an incredible level of building taking place in recent years. Although this means that the city can feel somewhat sterile, it has excellent facilities, and the historic centre still retains much charm.
City Centre
The centre of Santiago is quite compact and easy to explore on foot. The Plaza de Armas contains the cathedral, and is still a focal point for much city life, with people reading papers and playing chess in the square.
The nearby Palacio de la Moneda is the former Presidential Palace, where Salvador Allende was killed when the palace was attacked by artillery and planes in the 1973 coup led by Augusto Pinochet. The Central Market is located close to the river. Its iron structure was built in England in the 19th century before being shipped to Chile and assembled. The fish and fruit stalls in the market are very picturesque, and the market is well worth visiting, especially at lunch time when you can eat at one of the restaurants in the market itself.