Last updated on December 20, 2023.

One of the most recognizable buildings in Santiago is Palacio de La Moneda. It’s the presidential headquarters of Chile, and was built between 1784-1799 by the Spanish as a mint.

Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Palacio de La Moneda

La Moneda was the actual presidential residence for several years from the mid 19th century until 1958. It served as a mint until 1929. The palace was heavily damaged by the military coup in 1973 when it was bombed by the Chilean Air Force.

 

Tours of La Moneda

I was able to visit La Moneda for a guided tour one morning. Tours can be requested by filling out a form on the official government website well in advance. There’s no cost and tours are currently provided Monday through Thursday at 3pm and 4:30pm for a maximum of 25 people (as of May 2023). Tours last about 50 minutes.

 

Security

Taking the metro to the La Moneda stop, I arrived at Palacio de La Moneda at 9:30am for my tour and checked in with security. I was expecting very serious and unfriendly security, but both the palace guards and Carabineros were very friendly and greeted me with smiles. I wasn’t expecting this level of accessibility and courtesy. They scanned my backpack, took my passport, and led me to a waiting room.

Visitor pass at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Visitor pass

 

Patio of the Oranges

I met my guide, Francisco, and we began the tour of the palace in the Patio of the Oranges (Patio de los Naranjos), named for the orange trees planted there. In the middle of the patio is a fountain brought from Peru in the 16th century for the purpose of supplying water from the Río Mapocho to citizens. This patio was where the mint stood until it was demolished in 1929.

Patio de los Naranjos at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Patio of the Oranges
Patio de los Naranjos at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Orange trees in the Patio of the Oranges

 

Patio of the Cannons

Next, we visited the Patio of the Cannons (Patio de los Cañones), named for two canons made in 1778, Lightning and Fury. The gate on this patio is where the president of Chile and dignitaries enter the palace. The president’s offices also overlook the patio.

Patio de los Cañones at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Patio of the Cannons
Patio de los Cañones at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
A cannon in the Patio of the Cannons

 

Patio of the Canelos

The smaller Patio of the Canelos (Patio de los Canelos), is surrounded by Mapuche totems and a sacred canelo tree. The Mapuche are an indigenous group native to Chile. This patio is also the part of the palace that sustained most of the damage from bombing during the 1973 military coup. Salvador Allende, president during the coup, committed suicide in one of the rooms overlooking the patio.

Patio de los Canelos at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Patio of the Canelos
Patio de los Canelos at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Patio of the Canelos

In a small room attached to the patio, the presidential coins are on display. Each coin has two sides, one with the face of the president, and the other the seat of government.

Presidential coins at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Presidential coins

 

Rooms in the Palace

After the patios, I was able to see some of the important rooms of the palace. First, we visited the O’Higgins Room (Salón O’Higgins). This is where the president greets official guests and ambassadors. It’s named after Bernardo O’Higgins, the founder of independent Chile.

Salón O’Higgins at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
O’Higgins Room

The attached room is the smaller Pedro de Valdivia Room (Salón Pedro de Valdivia), the official waiting room of the palace. It’s named for the founder of Santiago, Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia.

Salón Pedro de Valdivia at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Pedro de Valdivia Room

The final room I was able to visit was the Montt-Varas Room (Salón Montt-Varas). Press conferences and state dinners are given here. It was named after a president of Chile, Manuel Montt, and important politician Antonio Varas.

Salón Montt-Varas at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Montt-Varas Room

When the tour finished, Francisco returned me to the entrance where I was given my passport. The tour gave me a very interesting look into the politics of Chile and it was well worth the time and effort to visit.

 

Outside La Moneda

After the tour, I explored the area around the palace. Each side of La Moneda has a plaza. On the side of the main entrance is Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitución), with rows of Chilean flags and statues of leaders of Chile. One statue is dedicated to Salvador Allende. On the back entrance is Citizenship Square (Plaza de la Ciadudanía) with a large fountain and lawn.

Plaza de la Constitución in Santiago de Chile
Constitution Square
Salvador Allende statue at Plaza de la Constitución in Santiago de Chile
Salvador Allende statue
Plaza de la Ciudadanía at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Citizenship Square
Plaza de la Ciudadanía at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Citizenship Square

 

Palacio de La Moneda Cultural Center

The entrance to the Palacio de La Moneda Cultural Center (Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda) is at Citizenship Square. It’s a museum that was founded in 2006 in the former basement of La Moneda. Admission is CLP$3,000 (as of May 2023) and expositions are open daily except Mondays from 10am to 6:30pm.

Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Palacio de La Moneda Cultural Center

There are two galleries with rotating exhibits containing modern art, classical paintings, video installations, and some sculptures. I found one of the exhibits interesting, but the architecture was more interesting than the actual exhibits.

Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda at Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago de Chile
Palacio de La Moneda Cultural Center

 

Chancellery

Next to La Moneda is the Chancellery (Cancillería). It currently holds the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, but was formerly the Hotel Carrera from 1940 to 2003. Journalists watched the bombing of La Moneda from there in 1973.

Cancillería / Hotel Carrera in Santiago de Chile
Chancellery / Hotel Carrera

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

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