Santiago – History

Santiago was initially founded in 1541 as the city of Santiago del Nuevo Extremo by Pedro de Valdivia. It was, however, destroyed by natives when left unprotected in September of the same year. After a bloody battle between the settlers and natives, the city was slowly rebuilt, however, it was only in 1607 that the Royal Court in Santiago was formed, reaffirming the role of the city as the capital. The settled Spanish would suffer in the early years of Santiago including suffering from shortages of food and supplies. Despite all odds, the city began a rapid period of growth. However, these would be short lived, with several major disasters enveloping the city in the 16th and 17th centuries. These disasters included a major earthquake, the outbreak of smallpox, various floods, and a second major earthquake in 1647 which killed more than 600 people.

Besieged by disaster, several important developments were made in the late 1700s. This included the launch of the Calicanto Bridge and the construction of embankments to prevent extreme flooding. This also included the Palacio de La Moneda, the canal San Carlos and the development of the road to Valparaiso which connected Santiago to the main port of the time. In 1810, the First Government Junta of Santiago established independence for Chile. The city was however threatened by nearby events including but not limited to military action.

The Spanish marched heavily towards Santiago in 1818, nearly ending the city and the country’s newfound independence. The Spanish were ultimately defeated during the Battle of Maipu in 1818. Although successful in maintaining its independence, the city was rocked by additional earthquakes in 1822 and 1835. Despite this, rapid growth continued well into the 1860s. The city would become the hub of Chile’s national railway system, with the first rail carriages reaching Santiago in 1857. 1875 saw the streets of the city paved, with a railway introduced as newly developed public infrastructure.

The 1900s saw the continual explosion of Santiago’s population. In the early 1900s, the downtown district was transformed into a commercial, financial and administrative center. The Great Depression era would cause the collapse of many of the city’s industries. This coupled with the arrival of many migrant workers looking for jobs would lead to considerably widespread social issues, including disease, homelessness, and unemployment. This would revert several years later with the start of a new industrial boom, which would cause further explosive growth that would last until the 1960s. In 1973, a coup established a military regime at the top of Chile’s government. This caused the planned urban renewal projects to deal with the city’s ever-increasing population to be placed on hold.

Democracy would return to Santiago in 1990. Although the city would once again return to its planned developments, it would prove difficult. Many of the changes made proved counterproductive and were criticized as disorganized in both planning and execution. Modern day Santiago has been able to surmount many of these issues; however, many of the socioeconomic and geosocial issues are still major problems for the city. Today, the city is a hub for Chile in finance and tourism, as well as the development of food, textiles, shoes, and clothes. Mining is also a considerable industry, with a focus on metallurgy and copper.

 

 

Historical Locations 

Iglesia de La Merced

Address: Merced 628, Santiago, Región Metropolitana
Phone: +56 2 2633 0691
Operating Hours:
– Monday 10:00am – 1:30pm, 3:00pm – 7:00pm
– Tuesday 10:00am – 1:30pm, 3:00pm – 7:00pm
– Wednesday 10:00am – 1:30pm, 3:00pm – 7:00pm
– Thursday 10:00am – 1:30pm, 3:00pm – 7:00pm
– Friday 10:00am – 1:30pm, 3:00pm – 7:00pm
– Saturday closed
– Sunday closed
Admission Cost:
– FREE
Website

 

 

Intendencia de la Región Metropolitana de Santiago

Address: Morandé 93, Santiago, Región Metropolitana
Phone: +56 2 2676 5812
Operating Hours:
– Monday 8:30am – 7:00pm
– Tuesday 8:30am – 7:00pm
– Wednesday 8:30am – 7:00pm
– Thursday 8:30am – 7:00pm
– Friday 8:30am – 7:00pm
– Saturday closed
– Sunday closed
Admission Cost:
– FREE
Website

 

 

Cementerio General de Santiago

Address: Av. Professor Alberto Zañartu 951, Recoleta
Phone: +56 2 26377800
Operating Hours:
– Monday 8:30am – 5:00pm
– Tuesday 8:30am – 5:00pm
– Wednesday 8:30am – 5:00pm
– Thursday 8:30am – 5:00pm
– Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm
– Saturday 8:30am – 5:00pm
– Sunday 8:30am – 5:00pm
Admission Cost:
– FREE
Website