Last updated on December 18, 2023.

Outside of the main attractions of Plaza de Armas and Palacio de La Moneda, there’s a lot to see in the historic city center of Santiago.

 

Fire Brigade

Using Plaza de Armas as a focal point, just a block to the north is the Fire Brigade (Cuerpo de Bomberos), noticeable by the red tower.

Cuerpo de Bomberos in Santiago de Chile
Fire Brigade

 

Church of Santo Domingo

A block east of there is the Church of Santo Domingo (Iglesia de Santo Domingo). It’s a huge church that was started in 1747 and finished in 1808. Vendors sell religious goods out front even when the church is closed to visitors.

Iglesia de Santo Domingo in Santiago de Chile
Church of Santo Domingo
Iglesia de Santo Domingo in Santiago de Chile
Church of Santo Domingo

 

Posada del Corregidor Zañartu

To the northeast, tucked away behind some buildings near Parque Forestal is the Posada del Corregidor Zañartu. It was built in 1750 and is one of the last colonial buildings remaining in Santiago. It’s a national landmark that now functions as an art gallery.

Posada del Corregidor Zañartu in Santiago de Chile
Posada del Corregidor Zañartu

On the next block are two more historic buildings. The first is the Church of San Pedro (Iglesia de San Pedro), built in 1896. The next one is another one of the last few colonial buildings, Casa de Velasco, built in the 1730s.

Iglesia de San Pedro in Santiago de Chile
Church of San Pedro
Casa de Velasco in Santiago de Chile
Casa de Velasco

 

Basilica of Mercy

Two block east of Plaza de Armas is one of the most beautiful churches in Santiago, the Basilica of Mercy (Basílica de la Merced). Originally built in 1566 and used by the city’s elite, it was rebuilt in 1760. It’s worth popping inside to see the ornate decorations.

Basílica de la Merced in Santiago de Chile
Basilica of Mercy
Basílica de la Merced in Santiago de Chile
Basilica of Mercy
Basílica de la Merced in Santiago de Chile
Pulpit of the Basilica of Mercy
Basílica de la Merced in Santiago de Chile
Pulpit of the Basilica of Mercy

 

Southeast of Plaza de Armas

Southeast of Plaza de Armas, at the intersection of San Antonio and Agustinas, are some incredible buildings, including the Subercaseaux Palace (Palacio Subercaseaux) (1901) and the Municipal Theatre (Teatro Municipal) (1857).

Palacio Subercaseaux in Santiago de Chile
Subercaseaux Palace
Teatro Municipal in Santiago de Chile
Municipal Theatre

Also on the corner is a restaurant with a huge picture of Bill Clinton. Clinton actually visited the restaurant on his trip to Chile and the owner changed the name of the restaurant to La Pica de Clinton in honor of the visit. Use your imagination as to what the name means. Hint: it’s slang for a part of the male anatomy.

La Pica de Clinton in Santiago de Chile
La Pica de Clinton

 

Church of San Agustín

Two blocks south of the plaza is the Church of San Agustín (Iglesia de San Agustín). It was originally built in 1625, but destroyed and rebuilt twice after earthquakes, the last time being after 1730.

Iglesia de San Agustín in Santiago de Chile
Church of San Agustín

There’s a famous carving of Christ inside called the Cristo de Mayo. The crown of thorns slipped down to the neck during an earthquake in 1647, and, according to legend, when someone tried to fix it, the face began to bleed and the ground shook. The crown is still around the neck.

Iglesia de San Agustín in Santiago de Chile
Church of San Agustín
Iglesia de San Agustín in Santiago de Chile
Church of San Agustín

 

Paseo Ahumada

Running south from Plaza de Armas is Paseo Ahumada. This is Santiago’s main pedestrian thoroughfare. It takes you four blocks all the way to Alameda. There’s all kinds of shopping up and down the street and inside different passages along the way. One notable building is the Banco de Chile, built in 1925. The rest of the street is full of shops and street vendors.

Paseo Ahumada in Santiago de Chile
Paseo Ahumada
Banco de Chile in Santiago de Chile
Banco de Chile

 

La City

At the southern end of Paseo Ahumada is La City, which is the financial district of Santiago. Here, you can find Calle Nueva York, a short cobblestone pedestrian street with a large clock tower building at the end, and the Santiago Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Comercio), which was launched in 1884.

Calle Nueva York in Santiago de Chile
Calle Nueva York
Bolsa de Comercio in Santiago de Chile
Santiago Stock Exchange

 

Government Buildings

West of Plaza de Armas are two grand government buildings. The first is the Palace of the Courts of Justice (Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia), built between 1905 and 1930. It’s the main courthouse. I was unable to visit because it was closed for renovation.

Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia in Santiago de Chile
Palace of the Courts of Justice

The second, directly behind the Metropolitan Cathedral, is the former National Congress (Ex Congreso Nacional). It was built in 1876 and used as the Chilean Congress until the military coup in 1973. Across the street is the Diplomatic Academy of Chile (Academia Diplomática de Chile), which is a school that trains future diplomats. It was founded in 1954.

Ex Congreso Nacional in Santiago de Chile
Former National Congress
Ex Congreso Nacional in Santiago de Chile
Former National Congress
Academia Diplomática de Chile in Santiago de Chile
Diplomatic Academy of Chile

 

La Alhambra Palace

One final building, just a few more blocks off the grid than anything else in the area, is the La Alhambra Palace (Palacio La Alhambra). It was built in 1862 and modeled after the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. It currently holds an art museum run by the National Society of Fine Arts (Sociedad Nacional de Bellas Artes).

Palacio La Alhambra in Santiago de Chile
La Alhambra Palace
Palacio La Alhambra in Santiago de Chile
La Alhambra Palace
Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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