Santiago

Founded in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia, Santiago, the capital of Chile, is located in the center of the country, in the basin of the Mapocho River. It is a modern, secure city with hotel and commercial services, as well as excellent restaurants.

In some neighborhoods, you can still see signs of European and Colonial architectural influences, demonstrating the splendor and the cosmopolitan roots of the society. In addition to the great cultural and entertainment offering of the city, with its theaters and constant exhibitions, it is also possible to enjoy from here the proximity of the Andes mountains, which each winter is snow covered to receive winter sport enthusiasts in its comfortable ski resorts. To that is added the possibility of enjoying the coast, with its beaches and entertainment centers, such as the casino of Viña del Mar, and the active nightlife of Valparaiso, declared a World Heritage Site.

History
Upon his arrival to the Mapocho River Valley, the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia and his men camped at the bottom of a rural hill that the indigenous called Huelén, later baptized by Valdivia as Santa Lucía. In this spot on February 12, 1541, the city was founded that would receive the name of Santiago of the New Extreme.

With this step, Chile began to write a history characterized by the influence of the Spanish crown, present in all of America. At the end of the of the 17th century, the most important Spanish families that arrived to conquer the new world brought European architects to begin to give the city elegant works such as the Palace of the Moneda (the Mint), the largest neoclassical construction in Colonial America.

Independence Day, the 18th of September of 1810, brought a new wealth to the Chilean capital, owing principally to the nitrate deposits in the north. The creation of large parks and gardens, a magnificent museum of art, and new bridges over the Mapocho River are among the most important public works of this time period.

At the end of the 20th century, an unprecedented economic growth generated the construction of dozens of tall buildings and impeccable residential neighborhoods that contribute to the architectural history of the capital.

Shopping
The mix of modern and traditional lifestyles in Chile makes it possible to buy products in Santiago of excellent quality and of the best international brands. In the commercial centers of Santiago, you can find department stores, international design stores, and stores that specialize in typical products of Chile, such as the stone Lapis lazuli. Worth mentioning are the malls Parque Arauco and Alto Las Condes, as well as the boulevard Alonso de Cordova, a street in which you can find stores of exclusive design, along with restaurants and art galleries.

Restaurants
The restaurants found in Santiago have a varied menu and receive the contribution of the entire Chilean seaboard. Especially interesting is the large variety of seafood, including the Robinson Crusoe Crab and the large oysters of the northern region of Coquimbo. There are also a number of traditional foods with a chicken, pork, or beef base; in general, these are prepared as soups, barbeques, or in oven-baked dishes.

Nightlife
The characteristics of Santiago motivate its inhabitants to look for possible spaces to enjoy the arts, cultural activities, and high-level performances. You can find Bohemian nightlife throughout the week in a great number of establishments centered in neighborhoods that have been specially converted into entertainment centers. Some neighborhoods that you may want to explore are: Bellavista, Lastarria, Suecia, and San Demian.

Culture
The cultural offering of Santiago offers a variety of attractions throughout the year, including a not to be missed theater festival that takes place each year during January. Music lovers can enjoy night spots where the concerts of national artists are the preferred venue. In addition, you can visit the municipal theater, which presents international-quality performances nearly every day during the summer. We also cannot fail to mention the colonial buildings that you can visit, which are bequests of the splendorous past of Santiago and where the principal museums of the country can be found. Two that are worth exploring are: the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Fine Arts in Parque Forestal (a large park in the center of the city).

Architecture
Santiago is a modern city that grows each day remaining the major urban center of the country. Its vanguard-style buildings contrast with the constructions linked to the Spanish colonizing past and European architecture, like the San Francisco Church, the Cousiño Palace, or the Cathedral of Santiago. Although the city does not rest from the hustle and bustle of daily life and work, it is always possible to find spaces to rest a few moments and enjoy the greenness of parks, such as the Parque Forestal, in which you will also find the beautiful building of the National Museum of Fine Arts.