Travel Eye on Santiago (Chile)

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Overview:

Santiago is the capital of Chile. Most of the economic, administrative, cultural, commercial, industrial and political activities of the country are concentrated here. It was founded by Pedro de Vadivia on February 14th in 1541 in the Río Mapocho Valley at the foothills of the Santa Lucia hill.

The towering Andes provide an awesome backdrop for the sprawling metropolis of Santiago. The population of this flat urban stage that spreads out from a compact city centre numbers more than five million.

The city is a curious mix of skyscrapers and 19th-century European architecture, with some Spanish adobe bungalows thrown in for good measure. Threaded through this architectural tapestry are numerous green areas, busy markets, and quaint old squares.

The climate of this area is mediterranean, warm, with regular temperature variations between summer and winter. Rain occurs mainly between March and September (autumn and winter), and very scarcely in summer. The annual average temperature is 14º Celsius. The average is 9º Celsius in winter and it is 22º Celsius in summer, although sometimes it may be higher than 30º during this season.

New and comfortable hotels Located both in the center and on the eastern side of the city, have significantly increased Santiago's capacity to accommodate visitors as well as providing special facilities for congresses and conventions. Together with the development of tourist infrastructure, gastronomy in Chile has also taken on a new lease of life, both as regards the quality and the quantity of restaurants.

The city exudes an aura of health and wealth in the inner city and fashionable suburbs, despite the shabby shantytowns stretching out from behind the skyscraper facade. The city is also one of the 10 most severely polluted cities in the world, thanks to its position in a bowl of mountains. It is nevertheless an excellent base in which to spend a relaxing few days taking excursions to the wineries, national parks and ski areas, which are all within easy reach of the city.

Locality:

Santiago can be found in Central Chile. Due to its geographic location, Santiago is one of the few capital cities in the world which has easy access both to ski slopes -just 50 kms. away-, and beaches, 100 kms. away.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Santiago's restaurants offer local cuisine based on seafood, fish, vegetables, and meat, as well as a variety of international specialities. Aeras where most restaurants are located are:

Bellavista district.

El Bosque - Isidora Goyenechea area.

Providencia Suecia area

General Holley, also has elegant bars.

Paseo San Damián. Las Condes.

Street life is vibrant, and adding to the vibe is the presence of numerous chic sidewalk cafes, outside of which traditionally dressed women hawk their wares hoping to catch the eye of the tourists.

There are also some small but impressive museums, several modern hotels, excellent restaurants and some good shopping opportunities in the Ahumada and Huerfanos pedestrian malls.

A visit to the museums, art galleries, handcraft centers and neighbourhoods with intense cultural and artistic activity will give the visitor an insight into the culture and traditions of the country and its people.

Museums in Santiago:

Colonial San Francisco

``La Chascona", House of the poet Pablo Neruda

Municipal Theater - Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro with its art galleries and antique stores.

Bellavista district - Park of Sculptures

Providencia district (art galleries, cinemas and theater halls) - Cultural Institute of Providencia.

Artisan Village of Los Graneros del Alba - Los Dominicos Church -

Cultural Institute of Las Condes - Cultural Institute of La Reina.