Free Walking Tour Santiago is a private tour guide agency offering free tours around the city. The tours are conducted by friendly guides wearing red t-shirts, who can be found standing near Catedral Metropolitana. The tours last about an hour, covering the major attractions of the city on foot. There are two time slots for group tours the first at 10a and the other at 3p. Tips are encouraged and accepted.
The Museo de la Memoria was opened in 2010 to give an account of the human rights violations of the Chilean people between 1973–1990. It intends to raise awareness and to promote reflection and discussion on these events. It holds a permanent collection of archives and objects meant to teach the history of the country under Pinochet. There is also space reserved for temporary exhibits to deepen understanding of the magnitude of these events.
Located in the heart of Santiago, Cerro Santa Lucia is a large hillside that has been transformed into a beautiful and alluring park and outdoor space. Tourists visiting the picturesque attraction can immerse themselves in Chilean history as they stroll through the lush gardens adorning the former military lookout point. They can also admire the intricate architecture of the park's buildings and fountains, with the vantage points providing a panoramic view of the city upon reaching the summit of the hill. Ascending the carved stairwells and staircases is an invigorating experience and visitors are exposed to the stories embedded in every nook and cranny of the structure.
A monument emanating resplendent beauty and displaying an awe-inspiring visage, the Catedral de Santiago is a regal structure which is an important landmark of Santiago. The construction of the religious edifice spanned quite a few decades, right from the mid-1500s to the late 19th century. Though the building sustained damage during the numerous earthquakes in Santiago, the cathedral has stood its ground, quite literally! The existing building was refurbished and reconstructed by Joaquín Toesca in the baroque and classical styles, with two elegant towers flanking the central nave. The interior is a splendid blend of towering gilded columns and intricately crafted tiles, with ornate frescoes adorning the vaulted ceilings. Magnificent stone beams were discovered in the confines of the church in recent years and the tomb of the first Chilean Cardinal, José María Caro, is located here.
This spectacular home was the residence of Pablo Neruda, the acclaimed Chilean poet who won the Nobel Prize for Literature. The home has its unique style, in great part designed by the poet himself and can be found at the bottom of San Cristóbal Hill. It was built in 1955 by Pablo and his wife, Matilde. There is a beautiful library filled with a vast collection of books, paintings and other objects belonging to Neruda.
This informative museum was installed in the Real Aduana building, which was built in 1805 and 1807. Now it hosts important traveling exhibitions that bring in a large number of visitors. Permanent exhibits include valuable ceramics, paintings, sculptures and significant pre-Columbian textiles, from Mexico to Chile. Guided tours are available on request.
The second largest city in Chile, Puente Alto is a quaint area dominated by beige buildings rising up against a backdrop of mountains and glaciers. The infrastructure of the capital of the Cordillera Province is a blend of residential areas and commercial establishments which cater to the tastes of visitors who flock to the city. Several vineyards are located here, and the buildings are reminiscent of old-style and classical architecture. The neighborhoods are quiet, serene areas with paved streets which are flanked by trees and other plants. A canopy of gray roofs and attractive structures greet tourists as they survey the city from higher altitudes, and a number of attractions are interspersed with the shopping plazas and parks. These include the Mampato Amusement Park, Estadio Municipal, Pueblito Las Vizcachas and the striking town hall among others. The exquisite Puentealtina Pre-cordillerana Reserve is situated in the eastern part of the city.
Free Walking Tour Santiago is a private tour guide agency offering free tours around the city. The tours are conducted by friendly guides wearing red t-shirts, who can be found standing near Catedral Metropolitana. The tours last about an hour, covering the major attractions of the city on foot. There are two time slots for group tours the first at 10a and the other at 3p. Tips are encouraged and accepted.
Chile Backcountry is a tour agency specializing in adventure sports activities, offering mountaineering, skiing, trekking, snowboarding and biking. The company consists of a team of experienced and highly skilled sportspersons excelling in various disciplines, who lead the expeditions, allowing you to experience the true thrills of adventure sports at locations such as the Atacama Desert, the Andes, and the Pacific Ocean. These tours help you understand the country's geographical and cultural diversity from an angle you have never witnessed.
Explore Chilean culinary styles with the help of Foody Chile in Santiago. It is a service provider that offers food tours exploring gourmet, home style and traditional kitchens around the city. The other tours include The Santiago Craft Beer Tour, Maipo's Best Wine Tour and The Pacific Palate. It is one of the few one of the kind tour provider in the city.
The Bahá’í faith was founded in Iran in 1863 and it arrived in South America in 1919. The Bahá’í House of Worship in Chile is located on a hill, on the outskirts of Santiago and was opened in 2016. The temple is known as the temple of lights is open to people of all religions. It is a beautiful combination of organic and futuristic design and looks like an alien spaceship landed on the hills. It has been built from nine monumental glass veils, and each glass veil acts like a door built in different specifications forming an entrance, so all faiths can enter. The veils come together allowing light and air to flow freely into the interior reflecting the Bahá’í faith principles of openness and unity. As the sun sets, the light inside the dome begins to change colors, giving the exterior an appearance of a glowing flower with its buds slowly changing colors. The dome is surrounded by lush gardens and manicured lawns giving a sense of peace to all who visit the temple for prayer or meditation.
This is a beautiful Renaissance-style building, whose first stone was laid in 1875 but would only be finally consecrated in 1888 by the local ecclesiastic authorities. The attractive interior has an 18th century Baroque pulpit, brought all the way from Bavaria, and a magnificent Walker organ, which was installed in 1875.