Chile is an amazing ancient country, which is an absolute exotic for Russians. The capital of the state, Santiago de Chile, whose sights amaze with their diversity, today is a huge city with a unique look and a very welcoming population.
History of the city
On the site of modern Santiago de Chile, the Mapuche Indians once lived, archaeologists say that the first settlements appeared here about 15 thousand years ago. The climate of the country is quite severe, so the population of the first inhabitants developed very slowly, around the second millennium BC, agricultural and pastoral cultures were formed here. Gradually, the lands were populated by settlers from other regions, and by the 14th century settlements with a wide variety of ethnic composition were formed here, peoples such as Changas, Atakamenos, Almara lived together.
In 1471, the Incas took over the region. In 1520, the foot of the first European, Ferdinand Magellan, set foot on the land of South America, from that moment a new era begins for the future of Chile.twist of history. In 1541, Pedro de Valdivia, a Spanish conquistador, set up a settlement at the foot of Mount Santa Lucia, which would later become the city of Santiago de Chile. The conqueror hardly developed new lands - the local Indians put up fierce resistance. De Valdivia proclaimed himself governor of Chile and named the new city in honor of the apostle Saint James. Pedro de Gamboa, who was entrusted with the construction of the new city, is planning a settlement according to the ancient system with a large square in the middle, with a cathedral, a luxurious governor's house and a prison.
Governor Valdivia could not be permanently in the city, he led the troops in the Araucanian war against the local Indians. In September 1541, the Indians destroyed the city, defending the rights to their historical land. In subsequent years, the Spaniards rebuilt the city, repelling the fierce attacks of the Mapuche tribes. Of course, the Spaniards won, having exterminated a huge number of the local population, and the city was already living its own life.
Until 1818, Santiago de Chile was part of the Kingdom of Peru, Chile was a poor colony and remained in the shadow of a powerful ruler. In 1808, when the colonial oppression of Spain weakened as a result of its capture by Napoleon, a wave of liberation movement began in Chile. It led to the fact that in 1810 Chile declared its independence, this led to an almost 10-year war. But the status of an independent country managed to be defended, and Santiago became the capital of the new state. During its history, the city has suffered several major earthquakes that have affected its appearance. In the 20th century, Santiago became the arenapolitical wars, there were coups, the rule of the junta, the restoration of democracy. Since the late 1990s, Chile has been actively promoted as a tourist region, travelers went to the capital, and the city began a new stage in its history.
General characteristics
Santiago is the capital of Chile, located in the center of the country, surrounded by majestic mountain peaks. The Mapocho River flows in the city, which originates in mountain streams, there are also 4 smaller rivers in Santiago and there are 6 artificial channels. The climate of Santiago is similar to the Mediterranean with short rainy winters (average temperature 10 degrees) and hot summers (average temperature 26 degrees), the city is especially good in autumn and spring. The population of the city is 5.5 million people, the ethnic composition of the population is very diverse, these are the descendants of Europeans, Indians of various tribes. Most people in Santiago identify themselves as Catholics.
Today Santiago de Chile is a major economic center, there are centers of the textile, food, chemical, engineering industries, trade is carried out. Despite the fact that it is the capital, all government bodies are located in Valparaiso. The structure of the city is unique: it consists of independent municipalities, communes, without centralized management. In total, 37 communes belong to the capital, and only one of them is called Santiago, collectively they are called Greater Santiago.
How to get there
Santiago de Chile, whose airport is located 15 km from the city, is the easiest to reach with European airlines. There is no direct flight connection between Russia and Chile, so the most convenient option is to connect at one of the airports in Europe, for example, in Lisbon or Madrid. The flight will take about 18 hours or more, depending on the transfer time. But such a long journey will be more than rewarded with the beauty and sights of the city.
Things to do
The capital of Chile provides a variety of opportunities for recreation. In addition to sightseeing, you can have a tasting of Chilean wines and dishes. Be sure to visit the Central Market, which presents a huge variety of fish and seafood, fruits and vegetables. Here you can also eat real Chilean food, such as eel soup or ceviche. You can go to a football match: the Universidad de Chile team in Santiago are real national heroes. Each of their games is not only a sporting event, but also a fascinating observation of the emotions of the fans.
For tourists with children, a must-see is the Fantasylandia park with a lot of attractions. Chilean shopping is another exciting activity, Santiago has an artisan village where you can buy various handicrafts, and at the same time see and even try various types of folk crafts.
Wine tasting is another story. Chilean wines are so good that the Pope, for example, only drinks them. Today atSantiago de Chile hosts special tasting tours where you can learn about making wine and taste different varieties.
Main attractions
Many cities in South America represent a unique combination of different cultural traditions, and Santiago de Chile (Chile) is no exception. Description of sights always begins with the Plaza de Armas - the heart of the city. There are interesting historical objects around the square. It is worth paying attention to the governor's house, the building of the Royal Audience, the Cathedral, La Moneda Palace.
The main cathedral of the country, it is also the largest, was built in the late 18th century in the Baroque style, it houses a unique organ and carved wooden pulpits of the 19th century. The official residence of the President of Chile, La Moneda Palace, in classical style, is a real gem of the city.
An important attraction of the city is the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, which contains a unique collection of items of Indian life, crafts and art. The city is interesting for its contrasts: next to ultra-modern skyscrapers, you can find patriarchal quarters with two-story mansions.
Where to eat
No one goes hungry in Santiago de Chile. There are a huge number of cafes and restaurants. There are many establishments with national cuisine with prices for any budget. One of the most luxurious restaurants is the elegant and expensive El Divertimento, where you can taste highChilean cuisine. You can eat meat prepared according to local recipes in the Dona Tina restaurant, the average bill here is quite moderate. In addition, there are a lot of small cafes in the city where you can taste very tasty authentic food, the main thing is to choose an institution where many locals eat. Food outlets with an average price and very high quality food are concentrated in the Central Market.
Useful information
Santiago is the thriving capital of Chile, the transport system is very well developed here. The fastest way to get to the right place will help the subway. Russians do not need a visa to visit Santiago de Chile. For a quick acquaintance with the city, you can use comfortable double-decker buses for tourists who make a trip to the main places of the capital. The most popular souvenirs from Santiago are alpaca and llama wool products, tribal-style wooden souvenirs, ceramics and, of course, wines.
Interesting facts
Santiago de Chile experienced four major earthquakes: in 1647, when about 600 inhabitants of the city died, in 1822 and 1835, when many buildings from the time of the conquistadors were destroyed, in 2010, when without The shelter left about 2 million inhabitants, the number of dead and missing exceeded 2 thousand. Santiago has a law that requires that on September 18, Mother's Day, a national flag be displayed on every building. The capital of Chile was recognized as the safest city in South America, you can walk here at any time in any areacities.
