Cultural information on Chile
Sightseeing in Santiago
For a full day
In the morning
The best starting-point is the Plaza de Armas, in the colonial period and still today the heart of the city with its roughly 6 million inhabitants (i.e. more than a third of the entire population of Chile). With its plane trees it gives you the impression of an oasis. Here are also the Cathedral and the Palacio de la Real Audiencia (with a historical museum) and the Casa Colorada, a building from colonial times with the city museum. A short detour to the north takes us to the Mercado Central, which is worth seeing, particularly for its glass- and steel- construction manufactured in England in the late 19th century.
The Paseo Ahumada (main shopping street, pedestrian area) links the Plaza de Armas to the south with the Avenida Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins. From here it is not far to the Palacio de la Moneda, the presidential palace built in 1805 (in
1973 the scene of General Pinochet’s coup d’état against President Allende). A bit further east we get to the baroque Iglesia San Francisco with a convent and a colonial museum.
In the afternoon
By taxi we reach the bottom station of the «Funicular» which takes us to Santiago’s local mountain, the Cerro Cristobal, 800m above sea-level, with its 14m statue of the Virgin Mary. From here we have a splendid view of the city and – with good visibility – of the snow-capped Andes. Then we walk down to the elegant Providentia District with boutiques and antique shops, as far as Banquedano metro station. Then further out of the city by line 1 to the final station Esquela Militar. After a short taxi ride we reach the post-colonial museum village El Pueblito de los Dominicos/Artesana with its numerous arts and crafts shops. This is an absolute must for those who want to get to know more about Chile’s cultural diversity!
Cultural information on Argentina
Sightseeing in Buenos Aires
In the morning
By metro (called «Subte») go as far as San Juan, then walk down the Defensa (a long street) to the Plaza de Mayo, the heart of Buenos Aires.
In the Defensa with its historic buildings from the 19th century you first get to the pleasant small square Plaza Dorrego, from there to the artists’ district San Telmo and its big market with antiques, then to the baroque church San Roque, and finally to the Plaza de Mayo. Here you’ll find the Monument of Independence (25th May 1810, General José de San Martin), the Casa Rosada, the residence of the president, the Cathedral and the Cabildo (the Town Hall in the colonial era, today a museum).
The famous writers’ cafe Tortoni nearby is the ideal place for a coffee (or snack) break.
For lunch we recommend one of the numerous restaurants along the embankment of Puerto Madero. Here, too, are two ancient corvettes and the modern bridge in the form of a sail built by the well-known Spanish architect Salvador Calatrava.
In the afternoon
Take a taxi through the working-class district La Boca to visit the football stadium of the Boca Juniors (where Maradona’s career started), then on to the picturesque district Barrio Caminito with its colourful houses, numerous restaurants and tango dancers in the streets.
View from Cerro Cristobal to the centre of Santiago
cultural information on Chile (56kb)
Avendia 9 de Julio, Buenos Aires
cultural information on Argentina (56kb)