The Palacio de La Moneda (Mint Palace), has two large open spaces; a small pool and fountains in the front (Plaza de la Ciudadanía), and small park in the rear. The former mint (hence the name), was built in the early 1800s and since 1952 is where the presidential offices are located. There isn’t much to do at the Mint Palace itself, although you can catch a changing of the guard at 10am on most days. Otherwise you can head down to the free cultural center underneath La Moneda and take a look at various art and history exhibits.
Santiago is a wonderful city for strolling and from the Palacio de La Moneda you can easily get to some other popular touristic areas like Plaza de Armas. In fact, most of Santiago’s sights that travelers might be interested in are within walking distance or quick metro ride of each other.
You can see a few more of my pictures from Santiago here.
I loved Santiago – it’s a great city to explore and is just big enough. The site of the Andes in the background is stunning. Thanks for the memories!!
Lovely weren’t they? The Andes remind me of some kind or mystical force overlooking the city off in the horizon.
Beautiful! I look forward to seeing more of Santiago when I visit in October!
Awesome, you’ll be visiting when it’s warmer too!
I had a great time in Santiago too! It’s an easy city to walk around and explore. There are some crazy good churrasco sandwiches in that area and close to Plaza de Armas.
There was this one little place with great lomitos there. I love the little places to eat there that get packed with people during the week on their lunch breaks.
Very pretty! Palaces and castles are one of my favorite things to see when traveling…they’re such a foreign concept to Americans. I’ve been dying to go to Chile!
I’m fascinated by them too, I love architecture photos.
I really like the contrast of the vivid blue sky with the white of the Palace. I haven’t been to Chile, but hope to get there some day!
Thanks – It was a very clear and *crisp* day! Not much smog fortunately that day either, which is a big problem for the city during the winter months.
Santiago has always been high up on my places-to-visit list. Definitely will have to check out changing of the guards when I make it down there! Great photos!
Lovely city that is so inviting the area around the palace is very photogenic too – good luck and hope you get to visit soon!
You know I always love seeing Santiago make the internet, as I call it home these days. You left out counting the stray dogs, another plaza la constitución passtime. You used to be able to check out the bullet holes from the coup in some of the facades, but they’ve been patched the last year or so. But aside from that, spot-on, and yes, you really had good weather on the day you took that picture. I may have to head to the “cineteca nacional” soon (also in the centro cultural) to check out a movie or two. Next time you come I’ll show you!
Hope you are well, and warm!
That would be great! The weather was nice – as for me right now it’s a bit chilly here in north Germany but I’ll be on the nearly scorching shores of Turkey’s coast soon. Knowing me though it probably won’t last, I’m always heading places when they’re too cold 😛