SANTIAGO

TRAVEL TIPS

VISÃO GERAL ATRAÇÕESTRANSPORTE COMPRAS ONDE FICAR ONDE COMEROVERVIEW ATTRACTIONSTRANSPORTATION SHOPPINGWHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT

OVERVIEW

Santiago de Chile is the capital and economic centre of Chile. Its metropolitan area has more than six million inhabitants. With its many museums, events, theatres, restaurants, bars, and other entertainment and cultural opportunities, it is also the political and cultural centre of the country. Santiago is a fast growing city located in the central valley of Chile between the Andes mountain range to the east and the coast to the west. It is possible to ski in the nearby Andes and later spend the afternoon on the beach, all in the same day. Santiago’s central location in the country also makes it a great base for visiting other parts of Chile.

The climate is cold and rainy in the winter, with snow only up in the Andes. It almost never snows in Santiago. Temperatures at night could fall to around 0ºC (32ºF). It has gotten progressively hot in the summer when the temperature can reach as high as 35ºC (95ºF). It is usually fairly dry.

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TRANSPORT

Santiago has some of Latin America’s most modern transportation infrastructure.

BUS AND METROTransantiago is the name for the city’s public transport system. It works by combining local (feeder) bus lines, main bus lines and the Metro network. It includes an integrated fare system, which allows passengers to make bus-to-bus or bus-to-metro transfers for the price of one ticket.

TAXITaxis in Santiago are painted black with yellow roofs. Unmarked taxis may be called up by telephone and Colectivos are shared taxicabs that carry passengers along a specific route, for a fixed fee.

ATTRACTIONS

Santiago is dotted with fine museums, a flourishing arts scene, and a number of exotic suburban parks.

CERRO SANTA LUCIAFrom the top of Santa Lucia Hill, located in the heart of the city, you get a magnificent view of the entire city of Santiago. The hill’s garden paths offer several scenic spots where you can stop to appreciate the view. On top of the hill, there is an art museum, fountains, statues and a chapel.

PLAZA DE ARMASThis is the city’s main square and is located right in middle of the historical centre. The park was named after the weapons that were kept here at the time of Pedro de Valdivia, the first royal governor of Chile. Later the Plaza was the meeting point for public events, for troop parades, religious processions and even executions. Nowadays, you can see parades on Sunday afternoons imitating colonial times.

LA MONEDA PALACEOriginally the National Mint, this is the nation’s Presidential palace. It was restored and renovated in 2001-2002, and is now open to the public on most weekdays. There is an excellent cultural centre located here, which is worth visiting.

CATEDRAL METROPOLITANAOverseen by the same architect who designed La Moneda, this neoclassical cathedral has stood firm where other structures have crumbled. The lavishly decorated altar is particularly striking. It is the fifth church that was built on this site.

North of the Plaza are three other historic buildings: The Post Office, earlier palace of the governor, the Museo Histórico Nacional located in the former royal audience hall and the city hall on a site, where a prison used to be.

TEATRO MUNICIPALAnother landmark is the Teatro Municipal, a baroque ensemble with classic French colonnades. The theatre is the centre of artistic activity of the city.

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CERRO SAN CRISTOBALA statue of almost 15 meters of the Virgin Mary on top of the St. Christopher’s hill can be seen from almost all sides of Santiago, especially at night, when it is perfectly illuminated. The hill is a part of Parque Metropolitano, a huge municipal park which is considered as a green lung of Santiago. You can get to the top of the hill on foot or by car, but the most spectacular way, is to take either the cable car or funicular. From the top of the city hill San Cristobal you have an impressive view onto the city and the Cordillera.

LA CHASCONAOne of three homes of the famous poet Pablo Neruda, La Chascona (meaning tangle-haired woman) is located in the artistic Bellavista neighbourhood. The house is filled with lots of unusual artefacts collected by Neruda throughout his life, as well as artwork by some of his famous friends.

PARQUE FORESTALA long park that runs parallel to the Mapocho River, also site of the National Museum of Fine Arts and Modern Art Museum.

MUSEO DE LA SOLIDARIDAD SALVADOR ALLENDEHoused in an old mansion with a pretty central courtyard, this museum is a 70s art time capsule. The exhibits were gifts from artists who supported the socialist Allende government. The mainattractions are works by Matta, Miró, Tapies, Calder and Yoko Ono, though there’s also fabulous geometric art by lesser known, 70s artists.

BASÍLICA DEL SALVADORA landmark in Barrio Brasil is the quake-damaged, neo-Gothic Basílica del Salvador dating from 1892.

WHERE TO STAY

Chile’s capital city offers an extensive selection of delightful locales for the tourist, backpacker, family, leisure or business traveller.

The first thing to do is decide which neighbourhood to stay in. There are the more upscale Las Condes and Providencia, the crazy Centro, and various other barrios, such as Bellavista, a bohemian little neighbourhood in the heart of the city and within walking distance to most of the tourist sites.

Santiago has recently seen an upswing in luxury hotel brands, especially in the wealthier neighbourhoods northeast of the city centre.

DINING OUT

There are thriving culinary enclaves in Santiago. Restaurants serve a wide variety of cuisines and there is a restaurant for every budget and around every corner. Gourmets feast on world-class cuisine in Bellavista and Providencia, bohemians gather in the charming old district of Barrio Brasil.

Some of the typical dishes are the arrollado huaso (pork steak rolled with red chili), pernil

com ají, parrillada (Chilean BBQ served on the table), asado al palo (Chilean country style BBQ) plateada (tender meat prepared with vegetables and onion), empanada (baked or fried pastry filled with pino, a mix of onion, beef, olives, boiled egg and raisins) pastel de choclo (tart made from ground corn filled with a mix of onion, beef ,chicken), pastel de papa (tart made with mashed potatoes filled with a mix of onion, beef, chicken), and porotos granados with mazamorra (a stew made with fresh beans, local sausage, onion, ground corn).

Seafood in Santiago is also excellent. The real delicacies of Chilean mariscos (shellfish) are centolla (king crab) from Patagonia and langosta (lobster) from the Juan Fernández islands. Ordinary dishes include paila marina (a thin broth loaded with fresh seafood and fish), mariscal (a similar mix but served raw and chilled), and ceviche (fish or shellfish marinated overnight in lemon juice, served chilled).

Restaurants serve lunch between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Lunch is Chile’s principal meal, so menus have more options at this time of day. Dinner menus tend to offer lighter items.

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SHOPPING

The low prices make Santiago a shopping wonderland, and the city is teeming with places to go shopping. For specific things, though, you have to know where to look. There are malls and department stores just like in any other modern city, but there are also hidden places in the city that offer you the chance to purchase unique cultural items.

The pedestrian zones in the centre of Santiago are full of life and you can stroll down its streets, while checking out the offers of many stores or street vendors. Alonso de Córdoba Street and Nueva Costanera Avenue are very exclusive streets where you can find high

fashion and luxury stores and local designers. In this area you will also find great restaurants and art galleries.

Traditional Chilean handicrafts made with precious stones, leather, wool, wood or ceramics and can be found at the Precolombian Art Museum, the Patio Bellavista (Pío Nono 55), the Lapislázuli stores on Av. Bellavista, in malls, and at the ferias de artesanía (artisans fairs).

Lapis lazuli is a semi-precious stone found in only two countries in the world: Afghanistan and Chile. Craftsmen use the stone to make ornaments and figures. Jewellers set lapis lazuli stones into silver to make necklaces, rings and earrings.

For other local handicrafts, check out the works of Chile’s indigenous Aymara and

Mapuche Indians, who make handcrafted musical instruments like the pan flute and 10-string guitars.

In all of Santiago’s districts large malls have been built. They are open until late at night and also on Saturday and Sunday. The principal malls are in Vitacura and Las Condes. Larger malls have Chile’s major department stores Falabella, Ripleys and Almacenes Paris.

STREET MARKETSFriends of Antiques and flea markets will also enjoy their time in Santiago

Persa Bio-Bio — The largest flea market in Chile is the Persa Bio-Bio, set up all around the street Bio-Bio. Partly roofed and partly on the street the market is only open on Saturdays and Sundays. Here you can find precious antiques, furniture, private copies of music and software, etc.

Feria de Domingo — A large variety of low-priced used books and all kinds of antiques can be found every Sunday at the Feria de Domingo on Paseo Estado, between Alameda and Plaza de Armas.

CURRENCYThe official currency of Chile is the Chilean Peso which is divided into 100 centavos. There are several paper bills which come in various colours. Coins also come in different colours and sizes. The symbol for Chilean Peso can be written Ch$.

5602

092080

COUNTRY CODE

CITY CODE

POLICE

FIRE STATION

EMERGENCY

112 634-1650

TOURIST INFORMATION

(+34) 981 555 129

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

(+34) 981 54 75 00 (+34) 981 54 75 01

IMPORTANT NUMBERS