Tourist guide: what to do and see in Santiago de Chile

On the top floor of the Las Condes shopping center is El Mirador del Alto, a first-rate gastronomic square where sophisticated and diverse restaurants come together, with such a wide range that it will be difficult for you to decide. Among those dedicated to international food, “El Otro Sitio” stands out, a classic of Peruvian food in Chile; the Majestic, with the best of Indian food; and Sushihana, the first Japanese restaurant in Santiago created by Westerners. And if you miss Mediterranean cuisine, come to Oliva y Limón. Its name says it all and you will feel at home. After the meal, you can enjoy the most varied crêpes (sweet, salty, with seafood or special for vegetarians) and a coffee in the well-known Colombian chain of Juan Valdez coffee shops. If you are afraid of calories, go to Yogurt Life, yogurt-based ice creams in different flavors. To take a good memory of this intense gastronomic day, you can stop by the store of La Cav, the wine lovers club where you will be advised by experts in the field and learn about the country's wine culture. In this store, tasting is a tradition, in such a way that you can decide for yourself which wine to take home.

Probably all the tourists who walk through Santiago have seen this building located next to the Plaza de Armas, but many will not know that its arcades are full of historic fast food stalls where many Santiago residents go to eat every day. Sandwiches, pizzas, or 'completos' – as they call hot dogs here – are some of the specialties of the area, offered at a good price. The complete one arrived in Chile at the hands of Eduardo Bahamondes Muñoz, an immigrant who returned to his land in the 1920s after spending several years in the United States. Thus, he set up his own bar, the “Quick Lunch Bahamondes” and began to serve these hot dogs. But not settling for the traditional ketchup and mayonnaise, he decided to incorporate a special cream made by himself into the mix. He invented triumphed and logically the adjoining establishments began to imitate him, installing this tradition of the 'complete' forever. Today, although the Bahamondes establishment no longer exists, the place continues to function, under the name of “El Portal, Ex Bahamondes”. Also mythical was Chez Henry, opened in 1929, but which recently had to be auctioned due to the insolvency of its owners, and the Ravera pizzeria, which continues to operate.

Although today it is a nascent restaurant chain, it now has three in Santiago, each one maintains the charm of this café and cake shop, mostly likely the oldest in the city. Its building on Alameda Street is of particular interest, an unmistakable building due to its pink exterior which has a curious origin. It was a butler of an aristocratic Santiago family, José Domingo Torres, who began the business in view of his talent in the kitchen in general and cake making in particular. Founded in 1879, its privileged position beside the most important government houses and its beautiful food made it one of the preferred places of the authorities, to the point which the cocktail party in honour of the diplomatic corps during the 1st Centenary celebrations took place in there. Since then it has had all sorts of illustrious visitors and has become a place for launches of some the country's most significant cultural and artistic iniciatives. On the best places to try traditional Chilean food and cakes, although it is expensive. If you want to fix your budget, order a "Barros Luco" griddled beef and melted cheese sandwich, so called in memory of the president Ramón Barros Luco. The sandwich is available in many bars in Chile but it was in Torres that it began to be popularised since the president was a regular customer.

Although for a while Brasil district went through a period of deterioration, in recent years it has seen its street and parks be regenerated, becoming a young and vibrant district which is worth visiting and eating in one of its eccentric restaurants. For example, Ocean's Pacific (221, Ricardo Cumming Avenue), where you can try its excellent fish and seafood in a unique setting: the place resembles the inside of a boat, with compartments set out like a cabin with names relating to the sea such as the Salón Cachalote (Sperm Whale Room). Another standout is Las Vacas Gordas (literally the Fat Cows), specialising in grilled meat and where its almost impossible to get a table at the weekends without having booked in advance. For post lunch coffee try Café Cronopios, from where you watch what people do in the afternoon in the Plaza Brasil whilst having the traditional Mokacccino, fruit milkshake and condensed milk. The area also has Mexican, Chinese and Thai restaurants among others. Meaning that, in the end it'll be difficult to choose.

They say: "Póngale más picadillo" in Chile to tell someone to do something with more enthusiasm or happiness. The phrase comes from the traditional Chilean empanadillas which are distinguished by their picadillo filling (a spiced meat hash). The empanadilla most commonly eaten and made is the empanada de pino, a filling of beef with seasoned onion and spices, available all year round especially if you go to Santiago in September, during the national celebrations. You can also get seafood or vegetable filled empanadillas, and it wouldn't be a surprise if you were offered them for breakfast since it's customary in Chile to eat them at that time of day, especially on Sundays. It isn't difficult to find somewhere to try them, but if you want to settle on a place, go to Paula A (6946 Los Militares Avenue, the Las Condes shopping centre), whose empanadas were chosen the best in the city in 2012 by the Chilean Circle of Food and Wine Writers. Other options are the Panaderías Castaño chain (www.castano.cl) or the Ña Matea shops (www.namatea.cl), which have been awarded first and second places respectively in the 2013 ranking published in "Wiken" (arts and leisure supplement of the El Mercurio newspaper. Wiken means weekend.)

Visitors may note the profound impact that the conquistadors left on Chilean cakemaking, recognising flavours, shapes and recipes originally from Spain in many of its traditional dishes Although, of course, they weren't fighters, the nuns began to found convents in the New World which established the bases for this cakemaking. Their influence was such that the saying "made by the hand of a nun" is still used to praise the taste of a good dessert. Among these descendents of Spanish culture, of particular note are the meringue, the brazo de reina (literally, "queen's arm", known in Spain as brazo de gitano; literally "gypsy's arm"), membrillo (thick quince jelly), dulce de leche (like spreadable fudge) and the so called picarones (made using squash and sweet potato) are very similar to Spanish buñuelos. However, original desserts from these lands also exist of course; such as dulce de alyacota (a similar shaped fruit to a melon but a little smaller) which is eaten covered in bread, el arrope de uvas (grape conserve) or the so called chilenitos (a pastry sandwich with dulce de leche inside). Similar to alfajores, their ingredients are just flour, butter, egg whites, milk and liquor. You can find them on street sellers stalls on the streets of Chile, but if you prefer to buy them in a shop, a good choice it the Panadería La Chocolatine (7269 Vitacura Avenue) or Bravissimo, the chain of cake shops and ice cream parlours. (www.bravissimo.cl ).

Italy knew how to find its share of the market in Santiago thanks to Café Tavelli, a café and ice cream parlour which opened in the city 40 years ago and becoming a point of reference for breakfasts and meriendas. It's also traditional to go to Tavelli to have "las once" (liteally elevenses, pronounced on-se), which is what in some Latin American countries they call merienda. The origin of the term isn't clear and there are some who use it to refer to a type of brunch which is had between 11 and 12 in the morning. Whatever it is, some cakes, a marraqueta roll (type of Chilean bread) or a cup of tea are always welcome between mealtimes. Right from the start it was the careful decoration, style and elegance of these establishments that most attracted the attention of locals, more used to places without much charm. Today, with 14 cafés spread across the capital, Café Tavelli is now one the best known chains in the city.

Although Santiago isn't a coastal city, Chile has nearly 6,500 kilometres of coastline and this is clearly shown in its traditional food. Highlights from among Chile's specialities are fried conger eel or as a stew known as caldillo de congrio, served in a sauce made up of potato, carrot, peppers, onions and white wine and is traditionally served in the time around holy week. It's also worth pointing out that there is an abundance of all sorts of seafood available at very reasonable prices. As a general rule, you can find good fish in most of the restaurants of the city, but some have made the fruits of the sea their speciality. This is the case at La Tasca de Altamar (www.latascadealtamar.cl 6347 Noruega Street, Las Condes district), where for 25 years people have been able to enjoy conger eel and other seafood specialities at a reasonable price, in a complete maritime themed setting. Another good option is Miraolas (4171 Vitacuria Avenue), a seafood restaurant where there is a curious mix: the best of the Chilean sea with traditional Basque techniques. They offer simple fish (Pacific pomfret, salmon and conger eel) and more extravagant offerings such as golden crab, lobster and oysters.

In the 90s Chile was experiencing the winds of change and not just politically. Society was becoming more liberal and the so called "cafés with legs" were starting to appear, especially in the financial district of the city, where scantily dressed waitresses looked after their customers who would come for a coffee after a meal. Establishments with opaque windows and neon lights became icons of the city though today they a more a curious memory of those first years of liberalisation. However, this doesn't nearly mean that they have disappeared from the scene. Among others, the mythical El Barón Rojo (717, Las Agustinas Street) still stands out, which became infamous for its "happy minute", although it never became clear if it was a myth or reality. For a minute and without any forewarning, the girls would give an improvised striptease for the customers who were in the café at the time. Another of the established cafés is Café Caribe (120 Ahumada Street), which is more frequented by tourists.

Chile and Peru have been disputing the denominación de origen of pisco for many years, with both sides refusing to budge. Independent of that, what is not questioned is that pisco, a liquor made by distilling certain wines, is very traditional in Santiago. The various ways of preparing it have made it a very versatile drink, which can be had on its own or mixed with soft drinks like cola, giving rise to what Chileans know as "píscola". The other option is to have it as a cocktail, adding fresh fruit, in particular citrus. The most traditional method is to mix it with lemon juice and sugar and drink it with lots of ice, either cubed or crushed. However, there is no limit to the imagination. There are places that serve it with melon, pineapple or raspberries and even with honey. Which one to choose? That depends on the strength you prefer, which varies from 30 to 43 percent proof. However, one of the best is "Control C" by the Compañía Pisquera de Chile. One of the best places to drink it is Giratorio de Santiago (2250, 11 de Septiembre Avenue, 16th Floor, Providencia), which also has the benefit of excellent views. In 2009, the government made May 15th National Chilean Pisco Day. For this reason each year tens of establishments offer a multitude of varieties of pisco for their customers on that momentous day.

In the central area of Chile a Cuasimodo has nothing to do with the character created by Victor Hugo, rather it is a float or horse drawn carriage which comes out every year in procession on the first Sunday after Holy Week to celebrate the religious festival which bears its name. A classic element of Chilean popular culture which was converted into the icon of the little polychrome figures made in the small town of Talagante, 35 kilometres south of Santiago. So much so that it was chosen by the then Chilean Head of State Michelle Bachelet as the gift to honour Pope Benedict XVI for their meeting in 2007. Measuring only 20 centimetres, always modelled by hand and painted in bright colours, these sculptures recreate in every detail, images of local customs pertaining to the time they were made. From the Poulterer to the Washer woman, the peanut seller, the shoeshine or social gatherings, food stalls or confessionals. The tradition was begun at the start of the nineteenth century by two sisters of the Jorquera Díaz family, who copied a technique used by the old nuns of the Order of St Clare. However, it has been on the point of disappearing on a few occasions. To avoid that happening, the municipal council organises workshops aimed at sculptors and artisans, who occasionally also sell their figures in their workshops in Santiago.

Intended for the daily life of the people of Santiago, it is not uncommon to find groups of tourists among the stalls in Vega Central, since the good value for money offered by the market has become known beyond its borders. It stands out as the best place to buy fresh products, especially fruits and vegetables but also cheeses, meats and fish. But tourists do not come there just for its products, but also for being a place where you can breathe the most traditional Chilean atmosphere. The shopkeepers have been installed there for decades and, aware of the tastes of their customers, in recent years they have begun to set up small bars where you can have a traditional Chilean breakfast of eggs with marraqueta, a type of bread similar to that of a hamburger. . Emerged in 1985 thanks to the drive of a prosperous local merchant, Agustín Gómez García, in its early years it was known by the name of the City's Great Supply Market, but finally the Mercado de la Vega, as it was called, prevailed. his neighbors. Today, there are almost 1,500 stores inside it, but also around it, numerous stores and wineries have sprung up, selling their products wholesale.

Cradle of the Chilean pottery tradition since before the arrival of the Spanish, 65 kilometres to the south of Santiago, Pomaire is town where most of its inhabitants live from pottery. Its products are easily distinguishable thanks to their reddish tones and their smooth shiny finish, although in recent years other methods and colours have been used in order to meet tourists demands. The most common products are pots, of all shapes and sizes although you can also find decorative items like plates and figurines. However the most typical item is the chanchito alcancíá. Chanchito is the diminuitive for chancho meaning pig and alcancía means money box. In other words, traditional Chilean piggy banks, with its slot at the top and which you have to break to get the coins out. Once you've finished shopping, there's nothing better than to be guided by smell and find your way to one of the stalls selling traditional Chilean food, like empanadas de kilo (large stuffed pasty) or pastel de choclo (corn pie). With these in your hands it can be very relaxing to sit and watch how the potters turn the wheel shaping their figurines to the sound of typical Chilean music.

It was in the 30s, at the dawn of the economic crisis, which hit the whole of the western world, that this weekend street market started to appear between Bio-Bio, Placer and Victor Manuel streets. Similarly to the Rastro flea market in Madrid, you can find more products and gadgets then you could ever imagine in this mass of street vendors. Known around the town as el Mercado Persa (Persian Market), historians aren't clear where the name comes from, but it certainly matches with the image you conjure up when you hear the expression. In the 90s, the authorities decided to put a roof over most of the streets in order to formalise this colourful concentration of street stalls, but it has since continued to grow into the surrounding area, once again in the open air. There are more then a thousand stalls selling second hand goods, books, clothes, furniture, paintings and toys among many other things. The best thing about the street stalls is that they tend to group together according to the goods they are selling, so you can ask a local to tell you exactly where the place is that you need. The covered stalls open every day, but to see the market in all its glory, it's best to go at the weekend.

The market has a mix of real artisan handicrafts and a host of cheap trinkets, but the good thing is that prices tend to reflect the reality of the product on sale so the customer can choose according their taste and the depths of their pockets. Among other notable articles are examples of indigenous jewellery, leatherwork, silver, hand-woven clothes and even panpipes, a traditional Andean wind instrument which is also used in the north of Chile. In the souvenir area there are plenty of printed t-shirts, postcards and figurines. In short, a vibrant street market, full of colour and articles which you will take pleasure in even if you don't want to buy them. You could just wander among its maze of streets, where street vendors offer you tastes of traditional dishes and watch the never ending comings and goings. What's more, on each corner there's a stall selling fresh juice from a wide variety of fruit, a peanut seller or delicious ice creams.

Begun in the 80s to accommodate the city's artisans, it's a village dedicated to craftsmanship and with possibly the most complete selection of handicrafts in the city. Many of the pieces are made in situ and you can see the craftsmen at work, though many also sell articles from all over the country. Each of the stalls, every one made of mud and straw, sells its own products, from ceramic pots to wooden sculptures, paintings, glasswork, restored furniture, antiques, leather clothes; in short, a very complete exhibition of handicrafts which will immerse visitors in the most traditional Chilean ambience. With more than 160 workshops this artisan centre is the biggest in the country and one of the most important in Latin America as well as being one the biggest tourist destinations in the city. Open Tuesday to Sunday, visitors will also find friendly little cafés and restaurants among its little streets, and more than just trying their tasty food, you may end up staying a while chatting to the owners and waiters.

mall that will not remind you of a mall at all. That is more or less the objective of Patio Bellavista, located in the neighborhood of the same name, and which is defined as "urban panorama, a place to enjoy with its own identity". In other words, a place where you not only go shopping but where you can spend an entertaining and relaxed day. The 18,000-square-meter center with the latest expansions stands out architecturally not only for its structure – it was selected to form part of the Chilean Pavilion at Expo Shanghai 2010 – but also because it has served as a regenerator for the neighborhood since it opened its doors in January 2006. But beyond its architecture and design, the important thing about this shopping center is that it combines gastronomy and shopping with the world of arts, design, music and leisure among neighbors. In it we find the same jewelry stores as restaurants and terraces with an important cultural activity every day of the year. Jazz concerts, exhibitions, theater, literary recitals..., always with special attention to the local idiosyncrasy, which makes it especially attractive to foreign visitors.

Only two places in the world produce this blue toned precious gem. One is Afghanistan, where for years the mines have not been in use, and the other is Chile. The biggest mine on the planet is found here, the Flor de los Andes deposit, located at an altitude of 3,600 metres in the Ovalle mountain range. For nearly 10 years this semiprecious stone was designated the national stone of the country, and although in 1993 is was officially changed to combarbalita, tourists and many Chileans still consider it a national symbol. To find it, all you need to do is go to Bellavista district, next to the Pío Nono Bridge. If you wander through the side streets you'll find small shops and workshops dedicated to working with the stone, where they will also take on special commissions, if you have the money; a kilo of lapis lazuli costs about 30 euros, so the price with go up steeply once is has been sculpted. One establishment stands out among the others for its long history and its quality; Lapislázuli House www.lapislazulihouse.cl, a shop and workshop opened more than 40 years ago by Luciana Celis. When it comes to buying, it's important to make sure that what you're buying is really stone and not plastic, however well made it is. The method, so some say, is to suggest to the seller that they put a lighter flame to the stone. If it's real stone, they won't say no.

From the outside there is nothing to suppose that this reinforced iron construction would be hiding the huge Mercado Central de Santiago inside it. Its iron structure over a large interior square floor is more reminiscent of a typical late 19th century Parisian railway station the any market you've ever visited. In effect the design is typically European and a child of its time: work began in 1869 under the direction of English designers who had the central structure made in Glasgow. The central square of the market, however was the work of a Chilean urban architect, Manuel Aldunate y Avaria. Its unique structure isn't the only thing which has led it to be placed among the ten best markets in the world, according National Geographic magazine. There is so much more to the market, beginning with the atmosphere of the district which can be felt inside the market, the friendliness of the vendors and the huge variety of products that can be found in its more than 200 stalls. From bakeries to cheesemongers, through to health food shops and butchers, not forgetting the restaurants, where you can enjoy the traditional seafood specialities of Chile. Don't be shy, order "caldillo de congrio" or "chilenito" (see gastronomy section)

Some have called it the Fifth Avenue of Santiago, which might be a bit too much, but what is sure is that around this huge street are the chicest shops, restaurants and art galleries in the city. Whether you're looking for shoes, clothes or accessories, you'll find them here. For years now all the big labels that have come to the country are in this residential district; from Armani to Louis Vuitton, through to Swarovsky or Cartier. Not only that, but small luxury boutiques have also set up in the area such as Sastrería Ugarte (sastrería means tailor's), for men, offering highly personalised customer service. If what you're looking for is art and design, you'll find it in the Librería Milaires (librería means bookshop) www.milaires.cl, self proclaimed "book boutique" and specialising in books on art, architecture, photography and design as well as unique decorative pieces. If you'd like to see the latest offering in Chilean contemporary art, the SWT Art Gallery periodically has free exhibitions. For relaxing in between so much shopping, there's a variety of restaurants all along the street, serving national and international haute cuisine as well as a number of delicatessens.

We are used to going to museums in search of great works of the history of art, but sometimes it's good to break away from convention when it comes to norms of beauty and importance and focus on the little works of art that the man in the street has been creating. This is the idea of the Museum of Popular American Art and among its collections it has tiny treasures from the length and breadth of America, in particular South and Central, for visitors to enjoy. Handicraft as a reflection of popular art and culture is the idea of the museum and it has an eclectic collection. Highlights include: the wooden miniature replicas and toys, pottery from all over the continent, traditional clothing of the Chilean farm worker and the popular manifestation of the people's religious devotion; like the traditional Christ crucified inside a bottle, found especially in the Región Metropolitana (Santiago and the surrounding area). The origin of the museum, located in the Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistal, is in 1942, when the University of Chile organised the first exhibition of popular American art to commemorate its centenary. The project does not have so much to do with technical excellence or perfection, but rather the social value of objects which for centuries have been passed down to the place where they are today.

The dress which Princess Diana wore on her first public appearance after the announcement of her engagement to Prince Charles, an unmistakeable little red number which belonged to Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor's wedding dress for her marriage to Richard Burton, John Lennon's military style jacket or Terminator's black leather jacket are just some of the modern treasures that are kept in this museum, which also has priceless items of the past. It contains more than 10,000 pieces, dating from as far back as the 5th century BC, although the vast majority of its articles are from the second half of the 20th century, in particular the 50s. Perhaps of most interest to visitors from among this huge catalogue are the themed collections, like those relating to tennis or football, the hats and fans collection and military uniforms. Just as interesting is the Children's clothing, the toy collection and the essential fashion magazines, the oldest dating back to 1983. The house of the Yarur Bascuñán family which now houses the museum is minimalist with careful details, clearly influenced by the functionalist designs of Frank Lloyd Wright.

From the very day of his proclamation as president in 1970, Salvador Allende was strongly criticised by sectors of national and international opinion, fearful of his marxist idealogy. As a result, in a very divided Chile, a group of intellectuals decided to create a Solidarity Museum in support of the Unidad Popular government, Allende's party. To that end they created the International Committee of support for Chile, which received more than 500 works donated by artists from all over the world who sympathised with the cause. The museum opened with these works in 1972, but a year later, after the coup d'etat, it was closed and its works hidden. However, the idea was revived in exile, renamed the International Museum of the Resistance and began with a tour of the cities who had donated the most. With the return to democracy, these works were sent to Chile, added to the original collection and the museum was able to be reopened in September 1991. Today it has more than 2,500 works, representing of every style of contemporary art and since 2004 it has been in the Palacio Heiremans, which interestingly was one of the centre of operations for the secret police during the dictatorship.

Based on the idea that it is necessary to remember and know history so that it isn't repeated, this museum was opened in January 2010 under the presidency of Michelle Bachelet, herself a victim of political reprisals, in memory of the thousands of victims tortured, disappeared and executed under the dictatorship of Pinochet. An essential visit for understanding the magnitude of what happened to Chile beginning the night of September 11th 1973, when the army did away with constitutional legitimacy, imposing a totalitarian system which limitlessly punished all those it considered "enemies". A total of 40,000 victims, who are honoured by this place. The museum has clearly defined zones, like the Plaza de la Memoria (Memory Square), a large open area for up to 5,000 visitors where events related to Historical Remembrance are organised; two rooms for temporary exhibitions located on the third floor and a Memorial Gallery where there is a small cinema room. Its collection basically consists of objects and testimonies from victims, as well as expressions of solidarity with the victims both from within Chile and the rest of the world during that time. Documents, publications, either of the government or the resistance, judicial proceedings, voice recordings and video recordings are also kept there.... Anything that helps to better understand this painful period in Chile's history.

Located inside the the shrine of the Virgen del Carmen, 10 kilometres outside the centre of Santiago, built on the place where the Chilean troops, at the command of General San Martín, definitively defeated the Spanish on April 5th 1818. In November of that year the first stone of the shrine was placed, as the military commander of the war, Bernardo O'Higgins had made a promise to dedicate a church to the virgin. However, the idea of the museum came much later and it opened its doors in 1956. Inside it houses a valuable and eclectic collection of objects, among which are the carriages of Santiago's first aristocracy. There is also an important exhibition of religious imagery, furniture of the era and paintings by both national and international artists. It's also interesting for its historical documents relating to the independence movement, its valuable collection of clothes, particularly those of high society, and its pre-Columbian art. However, its hallmark is the large mural of the Battle of Maipú, by the Chilean artist Pedro Subercaseaux. After the museum, it's worth visiting, El Chanco con Chaleco a restaurant serving traditional food, one of the best in Maipú.

It has fourteen rooms where you learn about things as varied as astronomy, energy or robotics in a fun way, and as indeed its names states, so that visitors interact with the objects on show. A place where touching the displays isn't prohibited, but rather it's almost obligatory. The museum emerged at the beginning of the new millennium and only looks to the future. It has received a number of awards, both for its architecture and for its innovative projects and is one of the most visited museums in the city. Children from all the schools in the capital and other cities come during the week and at the weekends it is a standard for families. You can learn about robotics, electromagnetism, alternative energy and intelligent cities; but the creators didn't want to leave out the fact the museum is located in a country with a very long mining tradition. Therefore there is a room dedicated to precisely that, centring on extraction processes, the uses of copper and this history of mining in Chile. For the littlest children, the Sala Ciudadela (mini city) has 3D cinema showings and loads of workshops in its theatre room. Finally, every visit is given some time learn about the earth and the forces of nature, in particular earthquakes, which are so common in Chile.

Divided into three long corridors and 20 different rooms, the museum is structured by historical periods, the first from shortly before the discovery to 1826, just after independence. The second period covers just 50 years (1827-1883), covering the 1st Republic to the Pacific War which Chile fought against its neighbours Bolivia and Peru. Finally the third corridor comprises of the most recent period, from the Chilean Civil War of 1891 to the years of the Cold War. As can be expected in a military museum, the periods are divided between great battles and its collection centres on the evolution of the army in each of them. However, we aren't talking about a collection of random objects, but rather society's everyday recreation: a get together, cafés, life within the fort or detailed models to explain the great battles. There are, of course collections of armaments, standards, uniforms and stripes of every regiment in the army. In its archives, the museum carrying out the very important task of restoring or conserving uniforms, flags and standards, be they they paper, paint or textiles, after a fire in 2000 destroyed a good many of them.

A must-see for lovers of all aspects of history; this museum has an extensive collection of all kinds of objects which makes a walk though it become a complete journey into the past, perfectly ordered into periods. Helpful for those who want to spend more time in certain eras and skip others. By dividing it into rooms you can visit an old indigenous city, the final years of the colonial era, independence, the methods of transport which revolutionised systems of production, the great depression of the 20s, incipient Chilean democracy from the 30s to 1973 and a host of other rooms. And that's not all. The museum also has stand alone collections with particular themes, such as textiles and clothing, decorative arts, furniture, paintings and prints, coins and medals, books and photography. Of this last art form alone, the museum has more than 100,000 pieces, a third of which have been digitalized for the enjoyment of all and can be admired on the website created for that purpose: Fotografía Patrimonial (www.fotografiapatrimonial.cl). The museum is where it has always been in the old Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago (Royal Court of Santiago), a magnificent building which serves as a foretaste of the wonders contained inside.

It covers 4,500 years of pre-Columbian civilization, the highlight of which is the Chinchorro mummies, from Chile's indigenous culture and older than the famous Egyptian mummies. The permanent exhibition is not just Chilean culture, but rather is aims to be a point of reference for the whole of Latin America's history prior to the conquest. This has been a pioneering effort latterly copied by other countries. As a result there are pieces from places like the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador, the whole of the Amazon jungle and the central and southern Andes. Themes covered by its temporary exhibitions over the last few years include: the Andean world, the legacy of the shaman or the great Inca civilization. The museum grew out of the Chilean architect Sergio Larraín García-Moreno's initiative. Over a number of years he himself searched, classified and kept pre-Columbian works of art and then in the 70s decided to look for an institution to continue his legacy. Supported by the incumbent mayor of Santiago, he could finally fund this museum, which opened its doors to the public in December 1981. Located a few streets from the Plaza de Armas, the museum is housed in an elegant colonial era building, in neoclassical style, previously the home of the National Library.

If you walk through Parque Quinta Normal, one of the great green areas of Santiago, the visitor will come across an imposing 19th-century building renamed Edificio París. Looking at its majestic size and its two stories high, topped by a large dome, few will believe that the building, made of iron and steel, was manufactured thousands of kilometers from there. Specifically in Paris, where the French architect Henry Pic designed it for the great Universal Exposition that took place in the French capital in 1889. A commission that only had one condition: that it be removable. Thus, once the event was over, it was disassembled piece by piece and transferred by ship to Valparaíso and, later, by train to Santiago. Currently, it houses the Artequin Museum http://www.artequin.cl, an innovative proposal in which art, education and entertainment go hand in hand. Very focused on the little ones but suitable for all audiences, in this museum it is possible to enjoy reproductions of well-known works from the world of painting and sculpture, explained in an interactive and entertaining way. The best way for children and adults to learn about the history of the artistic movements that have most influenced Western art.

Nowhere better for imagining the life of the upper middle class in Chile at the turn of the century than Counsiño Palace. In the dozens of rooms of the house no detail is missed: from carpets to furniture and silks to brocades, everything sent from the great European capitals on the whim and desire of Isidora Goyenechea, widow of the coal magnate Luis Cousiño and herself from one of the richest families in the city thanks to their involvement in the mining business. Straight and sober lines, in classic style and over just two floors, this was the first house with central heating and a lift in Santiago. The French architect, Paul Lathoud was contracted for its construction and a Spanish landscape artist, Miguel Arana, who did with the marvellous garden which surrounds the house. Immediately in front of the house is Almagro Park, which gives its name to the district which surrounds it, that the city council plans extensive regeneration in over the next few years. Among the projects for the district is the creation of two twin towers, 33 floors each one and a metro station for the area.

great unknown for tourists and locals that keeps inside the remains of great personalities of culture or science, such as Víctor Jara and Max Westenhofer, and that of most Chilean presidents, including Salvador Allende, who committed suicide during the coup of State that brought the Pinochet dictatorship to the country. Perhaps this is the reason why the Memorial of the Detained-Disappeared and the Politically Executed has been in the cemetery since 1994, in memory of the thousands of disappeared, tortured and murdered during the dictatorship. Made of white marble, the inscription at the top reads: "All my love is here and it has stuck to the rocks, the sea, the mountains...". Under it, an endless list, also carved on the stone, remembers the detainees and the dead with their names and surnames. The cemetery, founded in 1821 and which is accessed through an imposing entrance located in the Plaza de la Paz, houses very striking mausoleums and a multitude of styles, as well as sculptures and gardens, which makes the complex a curious place of great architectural wealth.

Cultural exhibitions, theatre, ballet, film series, international meetings, fairs and congresses come together in this old station, now converted into a great cultural center of Santiago. More than 20,000 square meters distributed over four floors where, in addition to rooms for all kinds of performing arts, there are two restaurants and a cafeteria. It was in 1905, when Chile was preparing for the festivities of its first centenary as an independent country, when the President of the Republic launched the project for this great station, which would be the country's communications center and from where the trains also departed. bound for neighboring Argentina. For its construction, the architect Emilio Jecquier, Chilean but installed in Paris, came from France, who gave it a neoclassical style of great beauty that earned it the declaration of a National Monument in 1976. However, a decade later it stopped working, remaining the abandoned space. It was in 1990 when it was decided to give the old station a new use, which would be inaugurated in 1994 as a cultural center and which in 2009 won the Reina Sofía International Award for its work in pursuit of heritage conservation and cultural dissemination.

2010 was a milestone in Chilean history, two-hundred years of independence and the Republic were celebrated. This served as a goal and starting point for a whole host of regeneration projects in the city. One of those was the Centenary Project, from which this Community Art Centre was created, located beneath the large pond which dominates the Plaza de la Ciudadanía. Begun in 2006 and 7,200 metres squared containing large exhibition halls, the National Cinema and a gallery with a large display of handicrafts from all over the country. A design gallery and an area dedicated to the singer-songwriter Violeta Parra complete this recommendable and original Arts Centre, which has contributed to Chile's important position within world art. The Centre is in the so called Barrio Cívico (Civic District), one of the main tourist areas of Santiago due to the number of buildings and sights within it.

It was the first church founded by the Augustinians on arriving in Chile and that is why, although its official name was always Nuestra Señora de Gracia (Our Lady of Grace), for centuries it has been known as La Iglesia de San Agustín (the Church of St. Agustin). The church was begun in 1609 and nearly forty years later the miracle took place. The image of the Christ of Agony was housed in it (also known as the Lord of May), one of the most significant sculptures of its time, when the tragic earthquake of 13th May 1647 took place. The church, like so many other buildings was destroyed, except, miraculously, the image of Christ fully intact, although the crown of thorns had fallen onto his throat. This story increased devotion to the sculpture, the first made in Chile, by the Peruvian Friar Pedro de Figueroa, in 1612. Since then, every 13th May the sculpture is paraded throughout the city, hence the nickname, the Lord of May. Besides this well known stature, the Church of Saint Augustine is pictorially very interesting for its painted dome, the altar to St. Rita and the collections of works by Chilean artists it keeps.

Central hub of the modern city and throughout history, it emerged as a central axis around which the rest was built. A quick look around the square gives a visitor an idea of the evolution of this large city: the silhouette of the metropolitan cathedral contrasts with the glass building of the Plaza de Armas offices, where the administrative offices of some of the biggest national and international companies are. Continuing our visual tour we see the Sagrario Church and on the north side, the central post office, which was once the home of the conqueror of Chile, Pedro de Valdivia, the Museo Histórico Nacional (National History Museum) and the City Hall. The centre of the square is presided over by the Statue to the Freedom of America, also know as Freedom of Ayacucho, as it was comissioned by neighbouring Peru to commemorate the battle of the same name. Made of white marble, and known by Chileans as the "lizard fountain", it is considered the centre point of Chile. But more than the statues and buildings, the Plaza de Armas is a meeting place and a place to relax for Chileans, full of caricaturists, jugglers and mime artists who seek the involvement of residents and tourists to earn a few coins.

You can't go to Santiago without visiting the Palacio de la Moneda, where in its two hundred years of existence it has accumulated a large chunk of Chile's history. Today it is the official residence of the President of the Republic, as it was in 1973, when the images of the military coup, with the building in flames and soldiers running through its corridors, were shown on televisions across the world. As its name implies (Moneda means coin), it was originally built (1785) to hold the Mint and from 1805 the last coins of the Spanish empire as well as the first of an independent Chile were made. It continued doing so until 1920, although it was before then that it had become the residence of the Presidents of the Republic. You cannot go inside, which means visitors cannot admire the paintings, lights and carpets which decorate its vast rooms, but you can see, as you can at Buckingham Palace, the changing of the presidential guard. The ceremony lasts 45 minutes (it takes place on alternate days, at 10 in the morning) and catches the imagination of tourists, who always arrive early to try and find a good spot.

A vast array of culture on offer, a foodies heaven and home of the Forestal Park. There are so many reasons to visit this district. You can wander for hours without getting bored for a moment as you look at its historic buildings, the grand houses which have kept their original façades and the small single storey buildings which serve as a reminder of a different era. Declared a Scenic Area in 1997, its stature as a centre of gastronomy increases by the day. Recent additions to the area are the Nolita restaurant www.nolita.cl the new Liguria, www.liguria.cl and the Bocanáriz wine merchants who sell more than 300 different wines. Also, you should at least take a look at the Casa Lastarria boutique hotel, which has just 14 rooms, each different, constructed in an small old palace dating back to 1927. It is a paradise for the senses; for those that can afford it. Designers and artists have also shown their interest by opening their studios in the area, but culture is not just among the streets of the district, but also in the Forestal Park where large cultural and recreational activities are periodically held, usually around the Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Art Gallery).

Having a hot bath at 1,800 metres above sea level in the shadow of the awe-inspiring Andes mountains is a dream which can become reality in the village of Baños Morales, 92 kilometres from Santiago. The trip can be made in a day or you can stay overnight in one of the lodges near the Baths. At the Baths, these thermal pools have a 25 degree constant temperature all year round, which means it welcomes hundreds of tourists each year. Its brown iodine, sodium and potassium rich waters are said to have healing properties for illnesses related to the bones and skin. You can also have massages using mud and medicinal waters. The centre is open to everyone all year round, but the best time to bathe is between October and March. If however you do want to visit in winter, it is advisable to check the roads leading to it are clear and not hampered by snow. A little further from the capital is Termas de Plomo, natural pools where the water is also hot, though getting there is a little trickier than to Baños Morales.

There are doubts about the origin of the name given to the hill, but there are many historians who suggest that the name is due to the existence of an old white stone quarry that was widely used in the 18th century for a multitude of buildings, including they are the foundations of the La Moneda Palace itself. On the other hand, they were not used to build the Parish of the Virgin of Montserrat, which stands on the hill and claims to be the first Catholic temple founded in the country thanks to the intervention of Doña Inés de Suárez, from Extremadura who, together with Pedro de Valdivia, participated in the founding of Santiago. The year was 1545 when the hermitage was built, although the current building was erected in 1834, due to the fact that the previous ones were destroyed in several earthquakes. Declared a National Monument in 1990, it is still customary today to go on a pilgrimage to the hermitage and spend the day on the slopes of the mountain. Its idyllic location next to leafy vineyards made the neighbors begin to call it “la Viñita”, a name by which it is known more than by the original. Inside, the image of the Virgin Morena, which, this one, has remained intact since 1574, has become the unofficial patron saint of the Santiago underworld, since many of those who leave prison go to pray to her, hence that is also known as "virgin of the lances" (criminals, in Chile).

Considered one of the city's focal points, O'Higgins Park amazes everyone who goes for its variety of styles and the different uses the people of Santiago have for it. Each year, it is converted into a focal point of the National Celebrations and the military parade which Chile holds on the 18th and 19th September in commemoration of the proclamation of the First National Junta, which began the process of independence. Every weekend there is a type of street market where anyone is free to swap of sell whatever they want. As clear proof of the eclecticism which gathers in the park, it is enough to say that the same park has Huaso Museum, which pays homage to cowboys and has an extremely interesting collection of ponchos and hats, and the MoviStar Arena, a big stadium mostly used for big concerts. For doing sports there is the Sports Centre, Olympic Swimming Pool, Tennis Club and Archery School, all located within the park. And not wanting to push culture to one side, there is also La Cúpula Theatre www.teatrolacupula.cl, which stages performances accessible to all, in terms of both price and theme.

Art and Nature give a hand in this large green area with views of the Andres mountains, containing a display of more than 30 permanent sculptures, as well as others that are installed in the park temporarily. Opened in 1986, its birth is due to one of the many meteorological phenomena that periodically affect Chile. This time it wasn't an earthquake, but rather the Mapocho river bursting its banks in 1982, which flooded the riverside area and took with it a number of houses and cultivated areas. The authorities took the opportunity created by the disaster to create something different, giving way to the Sculpture Park, whose first permanent inhabitant was an imposing figure in homage of Pachamama (which is what mother earth is known as in Latin America), by the Chilean scuptor Marta Colvin. Bit by bit peices were added by other nationally recognised sculptors and an Exhibition hall was opened dedicated to talented young artists. Since 2002, this open air museum has also been the venue for the annual International Jazz Festival (during the southern hemisphere summer).

A modern Ecotourism centre, boasting more than 30 years experience and has been declared a sanctuary of Nature and an area protected by the national government. Located next to the town of San Alfonso, some 50 kilometres from Santiago, spread over the whole of the Cajón del Maipo valley, on the banks of the river of the same name. Here you can enjoy nature without missing out on any of the comforts a visitor is accustomed to. The centre offers accommodation in fully equipped cabins and in the communal areas tourists can enjoy the swimming pool, games room, picnic and barbecue area, and for those that prefer not to cook for themselves, it has its own restaurant serving all types of food and it has rooms available for business meetings or events for up to 300 people. There are so many activities on offer at Cascada de las Ánimas; walking, horseriding, outdoor games... but the most popular with visitors is undoubtedly the white-water rafting on the Maipo river, whose waters, after having flowed through the Andes mountains, are rough. It is an intense water journey nearly 20 kilometres long and en route the waterfall which gives the place its name can be seen (Cascada mean waterfall in Spanish).

Moderate temperatures, plenty of sunshine, little rain during the harvest season and good soil have made Chile a first-rate wine producer. Although initially it became known in the market for its good value for money, in recent years it has gained prestige with some very high quality wines. All this added to an incipient wine tourism that, of course, we also find in Santiago. One hour from downtown, in Pirque, we can visit Viña Concha y Toro www.conchaytoro.com, run by the company of the same name, one of the largest producers in the country. Founded in 1883, the Concha y Toro Wine Tourist Center offers guided tours lasting about two hours in which it is possible to tour the vineyards, stroll through the splendid garden, taste its wines and, of course, visit the Casillero del Diablo –the most famous wine in Chile-, in which, according to legend, the devil lived –rumor spread by its founder to prevent theft–. Within the city, it is possible to visit Viña Santa Carolina (since 1987) and Viña Aquitania, founded more recently by French winemakers, in 1984.

To enjoy the outdoors in Santiago, it really is worth going to the El Morado Natural Monument, located 93 kilometres from the capital in the municipal district of Baños Morales. Getting there is very straightforward, either by car or coach and there's endless things to do. From walking to horseriding, then rock climbing and mountaineering for the more adventurous, the area, which follows the Volcán river basin, is one of the biggest tourist attractions, for its scenery and its interesting wild flowers. It's not an especially big area, just 3,000 hectares, but tucked inside it is a spectacular surprise: views of the San Francisco glacier, the reward for those who finish the walk suggested by the park. It's eight kilometres to get to the El Morado lake, 2,400 metres above sea level. Then for those that still have energy, you can go up to the base of the glacier itself. However, if what you want to do is recharge your batteries and rest, the area has various types of accommodation such as cabins, hostels and camping. Something for every type of tourist. It is important to note that park is only open during the southern hemisphere summer, between October and March, as for the rest of the year it is extremely cold.

It was from Santa Lucía hill that the conquistador Pedro de Valdivia began founding Santiago. A historical event which forever remained in its name as it is the date that his troops took control of the hill, December 13th 1540, which is Saint Lucy's day (Santa Lucía in Spanish). The plain rocky mountain was initially used a a forward defence for the city (and it still has an imposing fort from the beginning of the nineteenth century: Hidalgo Castle, which after years of neglect now looks its best and functions as a venue for events) which over time has been converted into a beautiful landscaped park. Of particular importance was the push for improvements by Benjamín Vicuña Mackena, mayor of the city until 1870, who built parks, gardens, footpaths and fountains like the striking Neptune's Terrace fountain, which is at the entrance to Santa Lucia park. One of the biggest attractions takes place every day at midday. At that time, since the early years of Independence, a canon shot marks midday a throwback to the times when it let people of the small city of Chile that it was time to eat.

It is not as well known as the Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, but the statue of the Virgin Mary that presides over the San Cristóbal hill is also a symbol of the city in which it is located. Modeled in cast iron and hollow on the inside, the image is 14 meters high, to which are added the eight meters that the pedestal on which it is located measures. Cast in the Parisian workshops of Val d'Osne, the sculpture weighs more than 36 tons, which were installed on top of the hill -880 meters- in 1908. A hill that is the highest in the city and that from there It precisely receives its name: the travelers of the time began to call it San Cristóbal, patron saint of walkers, because its height served as a guide to reach Santiago. Today it is a large recreational area, -sometimes it becomes overcrowded- that has hiking trails, a botanical garden and even a zoo, as well as a spectacular cultural center, the Casa de la Cultura Anahuac, built by the Chilean architect Carlos Martner . To get to the top of this great Metropolitan Park that stretches the length and breadth of the San Cristóbal hill, there is nothing better than the funicular, inaugurated in 1925, and which still maintains its three initial stops today.

Music, theatre, cinema, art and dance are hosted in this 22,000 square metre space located in the centre of Santiago. This is a place to discover new stage offerings and artists thanks to its and intensely varied works, that will equally host the Chile Symphony Orchestra and modern music concerts, a new version of Hamlet or experimental or controversial works. Divided into different spaces, the centre is accessed through a large patio which grabs the attention of visitors for its superposition of coloured light, attained thanks to a large glass roof light in the canopy containing a variety of colours. Its impossible not to see the "big fish" in the patio. A gigantic statue in the form of a fish, made using shreds of old clothes and hung from the high roof. There is another fish of note in one of the halls; a replica of the huge Wicker Fish that the artist Alfredo Manzano (better known as Manzanito) made in the 70s, one of the centre's emblematic pieces which was lost after the military occupation of the building. The building has also gone through the ups and downs of Chilean history. The centre was opened as a museum in 1972 but after the coup d'etat it was converted into the seat of government of General Augusto Pinochet.

Nicknamed "The Chilean Disneyland" by newspapers when the plan for a huge (it is the fifth largest in Latin America) and modern amusement park was announced. That was in 1977 and few Chileans then had been to a place like this, totally dedicated to entertainment for adults and children. Perfect for going as a family, the park will also not disappoint fans of theme parks. Seven rollercoasters, 3D cinema, shows, a whole host of aquatic attractions and even the traditional carousel. The amusement park has everything and has as a rule to open a new attraction each year; fun is more than guaranteed. There are a number of important milestones in its history, like in 1995 opening the first rollercoaster in South America with a full loop and keeping its promise to never cut a single tree down that was in the area, or in extreme circumstances replant it, meaning that today it has one of the widest variety of trees in the capital. A good reason to leave the kids on the rides and spend some time walking around its leafy surroundings.

At 82 meters long (almost twice the size of an Olympic pool) by 25 meters wide, the Tupahue Pool resembles a splendid natural lake. Designed in the 1960s by the Chilean architect and landscape architect Carlos Martner García, author of numerous public spaces throughout Chile, its construction shows the concern of the author to integrate design into its environment, combining what has been created by the Nature with what the hand of man can do. Indeed, nothing is left to chance in this irregularly shaped construction that blends in with the environment full of vegetation and in which not even the artificial waterfall seems alien to the place. The pool is impressive from the outside, but it is not until one enters the interior of the enclosure that the real surprise arrives: the Tupahue Mural, made up of thousands of colored stones –many of them coming from the same hill, where a quarry used to be located. – and carried out by the muralists Juan O'Gorman, a Mexican, and María Martner, of Chilean origin, in what is considered a symbol of fraternity between the two countries. Not far behind is the Antillén swimming pool, inaugurated two decades later - on December 8, 1976 - and designed by Martner's own hand. Located almost 1,000 meters above sea level, it offers spectacular views of the entire city, it is even longer than the previous one (92 meters by 25 meters wide) and its large stone walls stand out. The pools are open from November 25 to March 15 every day except Monday.

Going out in Santiago implies, at the very least, to end up having breakfast out. The usual routine is after spending a while at the pubs in the centre, party animals head to the big nightclubs where they stay until dawn. Of those, Santiago New (http://www.santiagonew.cl/) which is one of the biggest in the city, stands out; With happy hours, free entry for ladies, strip-dance sessions and themed nights, the Santiago New Club, self proclaimed "Party capital", is the perfect place for those who want to enjoy Chilean nightlife in all its glory. Located at 1863, Manuel Rodríguez Street, it is a huge club divided into various rooms, with giant screens and a spectacular sound system. It specializes in birthday celebrations as well as very special stag nights. Another must for Santiago nightlife is Punta Brown (http://www.puntabrown.cl/ at 354, Recoleta). Four floors located in an old industrial building where, besides what you find in any nightclub, there's karaoke, live music and the top floor has been converted into a cinema where classic films are shown all night.

working-class and active neighborhood where the anniversary of its creation is celebrated every year, decided to commemorate the triumph in the battle of Yungay, in which Chile defeated the confederation of Peru and Bolivia in 1839. Although at the beginning of the 20th century they settled in it wealthy families, then it ended up populated by the middle and lower class and for a few decades it was somewhat abandoned. The change came in the 90s, when it underwent a renovation and remodeling process that has turned it into the bohemian area par excellence of the city. The Monument to the Chilean "Roto" stands out in the neighborhood, a colloquial way of referring to the man on foot, the normal citizen, and the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center, in memory of the Nobel Prize for Literature who studied in this neighborhood, where Rubén Darío also resided for some time. The neighborhood was declared a Typical Zone in 2009 by the National Monuments Council and the best thing to do is get lost in it with no fixed objective or join one of the guided tours offered by various associations in the area. During your walk you will find a multitude of bars, but nothing like El Serena (Avenida Brasil, 441) a bar that "was always there", since the oldest of the place have memories, but in which nobody knows its history.

Students and tourists gather in this district which is the confluence of the University of Chile's School of Law, a daily handicraft fair and an emblematic place for lovers of poetry. We're talking about La Chascona, the house which Pablo Neruda built to live with the person who would be the great love of his life and who was also a writer, Matilde Urrutia. The name of the house makes reference to the reddish curly hair of Urrutia, his third wife and with whom he would live until his last days very shortly after the military coup in 1973. Set at the foot of San Cristóbal Hill, the place is now a house museum which is notable for its valuable archives, as well as its unconventional architecture; because even though the Catalan architect Germán Rodríguez Arias was in charge of the construction, the reality is that it was built little by little, in the end leading to the successive additions of rooms without any definite structure. A small pedestrian street linkes the house with Chucre Manzur Street, which has a lively arty and bohemian atmosphere. The area is full of bars like Dos Gardenias, where the music of Buena Vista Social Club and a portrait of Ché welcome its visitors,

If you're a ski lover and you find every season end hard, don't worry. Just when the Northern Hemisphere's mountains last snow flakes are melting, countries like Chile welcome winter and begin to open their pistes; reaching their peak in the months of July and August. There are many ski resorts throughout the country, but the best of those close to Santiago, are Lagunilla Centre and Valle Nevado, 65 and 56 kilometres respectively from the capital. Experts and beginners are welcome at Las Lagunillas, at an altitude of 2,200m; known for its family atmosphere and gorgeous natural surroundings thanks to its privileged position in the Cajón de Maipo, where you can wander through its picturesque snow covered villages. In summary, 13 runs of different difficulties and a large area for activities like snowboarding, snow walking or the amazing experience of nocturnal skiing. Valle Nevado, nestled in the Andes mountain range, has the largest skiable area in Latin America and a wide range of extreme activities such as off-piste or skiing on virgin snow.

If you like opera, theater or ballet, this is probably one of the essentials on your visit to Chile. It is the most prestigious stage in the city and the oldest cultural center in the country where you will enjoy the fine arts in all their splendor. Like many other buildings, throughout its 150-year history it has suffered the scourge of fire and earthquakes that devastate the country from time to time, but it has always stood up again, maintaining the French neoclassical style that it wore on the day it was built. inauguration, on September 17, 1857, when an opera by Verdi –performed by an Italian orchestra brought expressly for the occasion- sounded for the first time within its walls. In addition to the traditional programming, those in charge of the theater offer educational visits, allow attendance at rehearsals and have the "Behind the Curtain" program, which allows you to attend talks and meetings with creators. And for scholars, the center also houses the great national archive dedicated to art, theater, dance and opera: the Performing Arts Documentation Center (DAE Center).

Twelve towers carved into the rock make up this Santiago cable car that runs about 4.8 kilometers (Madrid's does not reach 2.5) through three stations: Oasis, Tupahue and Cumbre, where it connects with the Funicular, which leads to the sanctuary of the Virgin. Inaugurated in 1980, so far it has not yet been able to celebrate its thirtieth anniversary because in June 2009, after some failures in the system, the authorities decided to close it provisionally. Since then, several prototypes have been proposed to increase its security and its reopening seems close, but it has not yet been possible to put it back into operation, despite the fact that it was one of the favorite places for tourists. With this closure, Chile is not only losing the income that the more than one million travelers a year would bring it, but the Santiago sky has also been left without its traditional colored 'eggs' – there were 78, in each of which could travel four people – that were lost among the clouds becoming an icon of the city.

Although it is not a mass sport, in Chile there is a great interest in horse riding, and the Grand Prix Hipódromo de Chile is held every year (between April and May), in which the best racehorses in the country are decided. . Founded thanks to the tenacity of a group of enthusiasts, the Hipódromo de Chile is today a large event center where the visitor can find a wedding, a congress or a real horse race, which are generally held on Thursdays. The general public meets in the paddock, which consists of four heights, and the wealthiest, in the lounges from which they can enjoy a good meal while watching the races. The enclosure has an immense garden through which the visitor can walk freely and which is used on special occasions for recitals, concerts or parties. In the Barrio República is the Club Hípico Santiago, located in a majestic stately building designated a Historic Monument and designed by the Chilean architect Josué Smith Solar. It can accommodate more than 30,000 people and, in addition to races, a multitude of musical events are organized, especially concerts, with the impressive backdrop of the Andes mountains.

Initially born as the National Museum of Paintings (1880) with the objective of compiling the works that were dispersed in public and private hands throughout the country, what is now called the National Museum of Fine Arts has more than fulfilled its purpose. The initiative came from the Chilean sculptor José Miguel Blanco and since then it has grown from the 140 paintings with which the art gallery was inaugurated to nearly 3,000 current works, including sculptures, engravings and drawings. Among the collections of foreign art, an important collection of Italian paintings and drawings stands out, as well as various statuettes from sub-Saharan Africa, gathered by the renowned Chilean poet Vicente Huidrobo during his stay in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. Spanish painting also has its place in the museum, with various pieces among which the Virgin with Child, by Murillo, some works by Sorolla or the image of San Francisco in Prayer, by Zurbarán. The museum did not have its own headquarters until 1910, when the Palace of Fine Arts was inaugurated, coinciding with the Centennial celebrations. Designed by the Franco-Chilean architect Émile Jéquier, the building is neoclassical in style and its main entrance features a spectacular glass dome built in Belgium.

Of all the buildings left by the Spanish, San Francisco church is the oldest of those still standing. Ever since the first stone was laid in 1572, it has stoically resisted the many earthquakes which have destroyed the city, though the clock tower has suffered more than once. Inside, the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help dominates the high alter, and although it measures just 30 centimetres, it has great historical value. The conquistador Pedro de Valdivia took it with him on his colonizing expedition from Cuzco and according to legend, it protected him from his enemies. Next to the church a Franciscan convent was founded, today converted into the Colonial Museum which despite its name has mostly sacred art pieces, many of which were saved by the Franciscan congregation. Among the best pieces is a series of 54 painted canvassed in oil from the 17th century which show the life and work of St. Francis of Assisi.

Located in the central Plaza de Armas, this neogothic style cathedral is one of the cities iconic buildings, as from its very beginnings there has been a church there, though not the same one we see today. The first building was damaged in the huge earthquake of 1648 and since then three different cathedrals have occupied the site, the current one being the fifth and for now, the final one. Built in 1748, construction was directed by the architect Antonio Acuña, though the neogothic style façade was the work of the Italian, Joaquín Toesca, and the high reaching towers were added at the end of 1800. The austere exterior contrasts with the abundant decoration of the interior. The main part of the church has three naves and in front of the high altar are the carved wooden seats for the priests. The organ, made in London around 1756 is worth seeing and, in the left nave, a succession of small altars dedicated to various saints, the most important being the patron of the city, Santiago (Saint James). From the cathedral you can access the neighbouring Chapel of the Sagrario where there is an image of Our Lady of Carmel (la Virgen del Carmen), commissioned from Paris by one of the wealthiest families in Chile. Although not a fishing area, the Chilean people have always been very devoted to the patron saint of the sea and on 16th July, her feast day is celebrated widely.