Santiago de Chile is the Chilean capital and the largest city in the country. It enchants for its vast tourist offer and for its historical and cultural value.
Since its founding by Pedro Valdivia in 1541, passing through different historical stages such as the dictatorship of General Pinochet, and the work of Pablo Neruda, Santiago has always been full of life, colors, flavors, poetry and art. In other words, a dynamic that places it as one of the most cosmopolitan places in South America.
In this way, it invites any tourist to walk through its streets, find galleries, visit museums, enjoy a good wine or coffee. Day or night, there’s a lot to see in Santiago and that’s what we want to talk about in this article. Follow our text!
5 Tours To Discover Santiago
What to do in Santiago, Chile:
- 1 Explore the Neighborhoods;
- 2 Bellavista neighborhood;
- 3 Discover the House of Pablo Neruda;
- 4 Walk around the Plaza de Armas;
- 5 Visit the Markets.
1. Explore the Neighborhoods
The neighborhoods of Santiago de Chile are recognized for their different tourist attractions, which makes each one of them a special place to visit in this beautiful city. In this way, we will highlight 2 of them considered the most attractive, mainly for their cultural and night activities.
2. Bellavista neighborhood
This neighborhood, despite its record as a traditional area, due to its architecture and especially the famous house of the poet Pablo Neruda, does not overlook its recognition as the bohemian heart of the city. Especially at night, the neighborhood is full of attractions in bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
As a strategic point there is Pátio Bellavista, which is a commercial center that brings together several restaurants, bars, cultural spaces, shops. Bars and restaurants are usually open until 2 am.
3. Discover the House of Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda, poet and diplomat, was one of the most famous and controversial figures in the history of Chile. Considered one of the best poets of the 20th century, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971 for the relevance of his work to the Castilian language.
La Chascona, as it is known, was built by the poet in 1953 to be a place of clandestine refuge with his lover Matilde Urrutia, to whom I dedicate the poem “The Captain’s Verses”. Currently, it is one of the museums dedicated to promoting Neruda’s life and work. An amazing place to walk around and learn about its history.
4. Walk around the Plaza de Armas
Surprisingly, there is a lot to discover in Santiago de Chile, and without a doubt, strolling through the Historic Center will be one of the ways to discover different works that are out there.
Located in the historic center of the city, the Plaza de Armas is one of the most emblematic places to visit. This is because very close to there is the Cathedral of Santiago, the Historical Museum, the Pre-Columbian Museum and the Museum of Santiago.
Also, there are several street crossings like Paseo Ahumada and Paseo Huérfanos. Not forgetting the famous Cristo de Mayo, considered by the locals as the protector against earthquakes in the city.
5. Visit the Markets
Visiting the markets of Santiago de Chile, such as the Mercado Central and Mercado de la Vega is to get to know the dynamics of Chilean society, its tastes, culture and everyday life.
In this sense, the Central Market dazzles with its iron architecture from 1872. It is a place much visited by tourists curious to see fish and shellfish sales. This space also has a food court where you can taste local dishes.
On the other hand, the Mercado de la Vega is more oriented to everyday life. A real fair, with its agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats, among others. It also has a food court, where prices are more affordable than the Mercado Central.
Therefore, Santiago is a capital with a lot of culture and leisure to offer. And what are you waiting for to get to know this city?
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