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Santiago
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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. It is in fact possible to visit
the modern ski resorts as well as the famous beach resort of
Viña del Mar or picturesque Valparaiso, Chile's main
port, in just one day. Numerous villages located in the countryside
around Santiago invite the visitor to relax and enjoy the peace
and tranquility of countrylife. Tourists may also visit the
vineyards and try the delicious Chilean wines.
Santiago, like other cities in Chile -Viña del Mar, Arica,
La Serena and Concepcio- combines all the ideal characteristics:
a pleasant climate, beautiful surroundings and first-class tourist
facilities. Most major multinational companies, whether European,
North American or Japanese, have offices and/ or representatives
in Santiago. They have chosen Chile as their South American
operational base because of the efficient services offered here. |
Andean Mountain Range
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Palacio |
A modern communications network
via satelite -International Direct Dialing telephone system,
fax and telex-offers permanent contact with other countries.
A good highway system and a regular transport service connects
Santiago with the rest of the country and the world. The International
Airport receives over 100 regular flights a week from 20 different
international and two national airlines. Chile's financial system
is sophisticated and efficient, which explains why 22 foreign
banks and 24 national banks operate in the country, supplying
the corresponding facilities for financial operations. In Chile,
those in charge of organizing conventions will find that the
very best facilities and efficient backup systems are available
to help them guarantee the success of every event.
Convention centers, numerous well-organized tourist facilities
offering the efficient professional and friendly attention characteristic
of the Chilean people, are determining factors when it comes
to choosing the right meeting place. Due to its variety of tourist
attractions, Chile is an ideal destination for adventure trips.
As the main port of entry to the country, Santiago is the right
place from which to start a visit. |
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Nightlife |
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| In step with a variety
of culture to be experienced, you’ll find that Santiago’s
selection of cuisine is as diverse. Aromatic market stands offer
inexpensive Chilean favorites you can munch while browsing for
treasures to take home; gourmet restaurants serve the finest
in Spanish, French, Italian, and Latin American delicacies.
Many houses of gastronomy also offer folkloric shows while you
dine, a favored option with Santiaguinos. Nightlife ranges from
casual cafes festooned with poets and young musicians to upscale
lounges serving famous pisco sours. Cinema, theater, ballet
and opera are extremely popular. |
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Places |
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| The Santa Lucia Hill
in the city center is an important historic landmark. It was
here, at the foot of this hill formerly known as the "Huelen",
that the Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded the
city of Santiago on February 1 2th, 1541. He planned the city
according to the traditional Spanish checkerboard layout which
is still evident in the downtown area today. Today, the Plaza
de Armas with its colorful gardens is very different to what
it was many years ago but the buildings that surround it bring
back many memories. The Metropolitan Cathedral, on the western
side of the plaza, stands on the same spot where the first church
in Santiago was once built; to the north are three important
buildings: the Post Office, the National Museum of History and
the Townhall of Santiago. In the days of the Republic, new central
neighbourhoods -now traditional ones- were added on to the colonial
Santiago of the 16th century. By the 1930s, modern Santiago,
with its green areas and architecture had come into being. The
growth and development which have taken place during the past
years are evident in the facilities which the city offers the
visitor. |
Andes |
| Historical Santiago:
DOWNTOWN, includes churches dating from the 1 7th and 1 8th
centuries and buildings that were once the seat of important
colonial institutions, as well as other important historic
landmarks.
- Santa Lucia Hill
- National Library
- Casa Colorada (Museum of Santiago)
- Stock Exchange
- Club de la Union Building La Moneda Palace (Government
Headquarters).
- Plaza de la Constitucion.
- Plaza de Armas.
- Townhall of Santiago Real Audiencia Building (National
Museum of History) Central Post Office Building
- Royal Customs Building (Museum of pre-Columbian Art)
- Former National Congress Building
- Palace of Justice
- Club de Septiembre
- Diplomatic Academy
- Manso de Velasco`s House
- Santo Domingo Temple
- Central Market-Mapocho Station
Traditional Neighbourhoods includes a tour through streets
dating from the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century,
mansion houses built by well-to-do families reveal the influence
of European culture. |
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Museums |
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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.
A few suggestions:
- Colonial San Francisco:
- of Contemporary Art
- of Decorative Art. A must.
- of Popular American Art
- of Pre-Columbian Art. A must
- of Fine Arts
- of Santiago, "Casa Colorada"
- of National History
- "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.
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Valparaiso
and Viña del Mar |
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An excellent highway
about a hundred kilometers long leads to the coast through the
valleys of Curacavi and Casablanca. The countryside is beautiful
and there are several typical Chilean restaurants serving good
local food along the way.
Viña del Mar, also known as the Garden City, has 300
thousand inhabitants and is the country's main beach resort.
Located next to the Port of Valparaiso it has a good selection
of hotels and a wide variety of restaurants, a Casino, cafes,
discotheques and good shops. Visitors can go for a ride in a
traditional horse-drawn "Victoria" and see the town
with its wellkept gardens by the sea. The past and the present
intermingle in this bustling tourist center.
Valparaiso, linked to Viña del Mar, is Chile's main port
and also the site of the Chilean Congress. |
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The magnificent view from the numerous
hills surrounding the bay of Valparaiso has long been a source
of inspiration for both Chilean and foreign artists. It is undoubtedly
worth going for a stroll around the picturesque fishing coves
or taking one of the old-fashioned elevators up to the hills
of Valparaiso with their multicolored houses and mansions dating
from last century. "La Sebastiana", Pablo Neruda's
museum-cum-house, recently opened to the public, is located
on one of these hills. His most important housemuseum, which
is filled with his collections, is in Isla Negra, Just an hour
from Valparaiso, or an hour and a half from Santiago. As one
of the most important ports in the Pacific Ocean, Valparaiso
receives ships from all over the world. Here, they unload their
cargos and load up again with Chilean goods destined for international
markets
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