Famous Santiago: History, Culture & Local Life

We will meet at the National Library, the starting point of the tour, and go inside to explore its architecture, heritage value, and its role in Chile’s cultural and educational history.

We will take a walk through parts of this historic hill, a key site in the founding of Santiago. As we explore its terraces and viewpoints, we’ll talk about the city’s origins, its urban transformation, and the relationship between Santiago and its geography, while enjoying panoramic views of the city center.

We will explore this cultural space located beneath Plaza de la Ciudadanía, where we’ll discuss contemporary Chile, the reclaiming of public space, and the role of culture in today’s urban life.

We will observe the façade of La Moneda Palace to understand its architecture, its republican symbolism, and its role as the setting for key moments in Chilean history.

We will cross this civic square to understand its relationship with La Moneda Palace, state power, and the urban changes that have shaped downtown Santiago over the past decades.

We will stop in front of the Santiago Stock Exchange to talk about the city’s economic development, its European-influenced architecture, and the emergence of Santiago’s traditional financial district.

We will walk along this pedestrian promenade to discuss the urban renewal of downtown Santiago, the use of public space, and how art and design coexist with the city’s everyday life.

We will pass through this lesser-known square to talk about everyday Santiago, its secondary civic spaces, and the coexistence of offices, commerce, and urban life in the historic center.

We will observe the former National Congress building to discuss Chile’s political history, its architecture, and how the role of the historic city center has evolved over time.

We will enter a traditional commercial gallery to explore everyday life in downtown Santiago, its trades and historic shops, and how these spaces continue to connect locals with their city.

We will stop in front of the Palace of Justice to discuss the Chilean judicial system, its monumental architecture, and the role this building plays in the country’s civic life.

We will visit this historic arcade to discover one of Santiago’s most popular food traditions and talk about the urban culture surrounding completos (the Chilean hot dog) and everyday life in the city center.

We will enter the Metropolitan Cathedral to explore its interior, artistic value, and its religious and social role in Santiago’s history.

We will arrive at Plaza de Armas, the historic heart of Santiago, to talk about the city’s founding, its urban evolution, and the cultural diversity that defines this central public space today.

We will walk through the Lastarria neighborhood to discuss its history, cultural life, and transformation into one of the most vibrant and bohemian areas of downtown Santiago.