SANTIAGO DE CHILE, CHILE, SOUTH AMERICA - TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

CHILE TRAVEL GUIDE:

Travel Guide to Chile:

History and Growth of Santiago de Chile    by Hortense Soulier

Santiago de Chile, capital of Chile, is arguably one of the most attractive capitals in Latin and Central America. Far from the chaos found in most major cities on the continent, such as Lima or Mexico, Santiago is a beautifully city, modern, extremely well maintained with great infrastructures, and countless attractions to keep visitors entertained for days.

The city also boasts a fascinating history, and has grown through the ages to become what it is now, the center of all culture, economics, and politics in Chile. Santiago was founded in February 1541 by Pedro de Valdivia, on the site of a former indigenous settlement between the southern bank of the Rio Mapocho and the Cerro Santa Lucia. This strategic location also makes for a magical backdrop, with the city dominated by the nearby Andean range.

At first, Santiago was far from a major hub, and was only one of the many Spanish administrative and cultural outposts in the colonial period. Some other important centers in the era include Concepcion in the South and La Serena in the north of the country. Nevertheless, the city continually grew and evolved to become one the main centers, with 12 churches built by the mid-17th century - only one of which survived the devastating earthquake that destroyed most of Santiago in 1618). Another massive earthquake was responsible for extensive destruction in 1730.

The city started taking on its role as a leading center for culture and politics after Chile declared its independence form the Spanish Crown. In the 1870's, under the Indente, or regional governor, Benjamin Vicuna MacKenna, the city was entirely redesigned.

An urban plan was drafted, transforming Cerro Santa Lucia into a public park and building tramway lines for public transportation.

The Chilean elite also started settling in the city, with the wealthy from mining and shipping building mansions in the western part of Santiago. Most colonial buildings were gradually replaced throughout the 20th century as the city modernized itself and grew ever more rapidly by the end of the century. 

Like most Latin American capitals, Santiago underwent massive expansion, but the city has somehow managed to control this enormous growth and make Santiago one of the most modern metropolitan areas on the continent. 

Extensive suburbs, dozens of shopping malls, and impressive sky scrapers fill the city. The transportation infrastructure is also extremely modern, with a well organized bus system as well as an underground Metro.

Swept Away In Santiago De Chile   by John Binder

Snow capped mountains and stretches of vineyards encircle the vibrantly modern metropolis of Santiago, Chile. The sky is pierced by soaring skyscrapers in the financial district while off in the distance the peaks of the Andes ascend toward the same blue ceiling.

Airfare to Santiago is extremely convenient if you wish to continue your travels to other destinations within South America. The long north-south coastal strip of land that is Chile is essentially divided in half by the central capital of Santiago, providing an ideal home base for easy access to all parts of the country from the Atacama Desert to Cape Horn. A short drive to the west lands you at the beaches of the South Pacific Ocean while an even shorter jaunt to the east reveals Andes ski resorts and neighboring Argentina. Chile is also bordered by Peru and Bolivia to the north.

Sun, Snow and Sophistication in Santiago

From Independence from Spain in the early 1800s to the end of Pinochet rule in 1990, Santiago struggled with mass influxes of immigrants and a deterioration of infrastructure. However, recent history has proven the strength and innovation of the people and today Santiago is the financial capital of South America and a bastion of cultural preservation and seemingly infinite urban renewal.

Begin your Santiago travel in the central Plaza de Armas where the National Cathedral stands among other government buildings. From there you can catch the underground metro to any barrio of the city. Among the museums of Santiago, be sure to visit the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolumbino for 4500 years of South American history prior to European arrival. Along your way, stop in at Pablo Neruda's home (La Chascona) where the famous author spent a good portion of his life.

To fill your evenings, Santiago is brimming over with a hip music scene and sleeplessly boisterous nightlife. Jazz is a prominent sound throughout Santiago's streets and the Club de Jazz in Ñuñoa is one of the best. For a bit more sophistication, visit the Teatro Municipal to bless your ears with Chile's Philharmonic Orchestra or the Universidad de Chile for the Chilean Symphony. Then, find your way to Barrio Bellavista where lounges, restaurants and nightclubs are generously dispersed among youthful hostels and boutique hotels.

El Aire Libre in Santiago

For the fresh air enthusiasts, there is much to do in Santiago. Aside from an expansive municipal park full of bicyclists and joggers, most ski and snowboarders begin their winter wonderland adventures in Santiago for the easy access to many mountain resorts. The wine enthusiast finds fantastic tastes in the surrounding vineyards of Concha y Toro, Santa Rita and Santa Carolina. And once you book your airfare to Santiago, you, too, will find your ideal surroundings among the streets of Santiago.