Santiago

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Santiago is the capital city of Chile, founded by the Spanish in 1541, with a population of nearly seven million (Chile’s total population is approx 19m). Chile became independent in 1818 and its first leader was Bernardo O’Higgins (explaining the number of O’Higgins road/square names). He was the illigitimate son of an Irishman who served in the Spanish Army and became a wealthy landowner in Chile.

The city still bears the aftermarth of the military takeover by Augusto Pinochet in 1973 supported by the CIA. The marxist elected president Salvador Allende committed suicide rather than being captured. Pinochet’s regime came to an end in 1990 and democracy returned to Chile.

Entrance to the fortifications on the top of St Lucia Hill
View from St Lucia hill
St Francis of Assisi parish church – the Oldest Church in Santiago
“Paris Londres” district of Santiago – a number of the buildings were gathering places for socialists during the Pinochet years
A metro station
Santiago’s financial district with its flat iron building. There is also a newer financial district further out of the centre
Statue of Salvador Allende outside the Presidential Palace (used as offices, no longer a residence)
Funicular at the Metropolitan Park
From the restaurant on our last night in Santiago

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