Santiago is the capital city of Chile. It was founded by conquistador Pedro de Valdivia in 1541. By the 16th century, Santiago was inhabited by a few thousand. It was selected capital in 1818.
The city of Santiago was destroyed and built many times. In 1541, the city was attacked by the native forces and let to the Arauco War. The City was again damaged in the War of Independence started in 1810.
After the 18th century, Santiago started to look like a city. During this period, construction took place alongside the Mapocho River. Many civil beautification projects were also started to give this city a modern look. After the colonial rule ended at the beginning of the 19th century, Santiago’s population had only 30,000 inhabitants. City streets were unpaved, there were few schools, and cultural life was not so attractive.
During the early 19th century, the city remained a small town with few buildings. In 1930s, Santiago started transforming into a modern city. Many buildings, bridges, transportation infrastructure, political and cultural growth started in this period.
The development work continued at a slow pace and after two decades, the population of this city grew to 100,000 inhabitants. Telegraph lines and railway network linked the major cities together. Aristocracy spent a huge amount to give the city a wonderful look. They built beautiful houses to spend their winter and summer in this city. An elite society was also created based on the social clubs, operas and pubs. The aristocrats sent their children to Europe for study.
As the city grew in popularity, a major migration started from the other regions. Rapid industrialization led to more employment opportunities for the local inhabitants. The Allende government was elected in 1970. The authorities started to improve the city’s problems and paying attention to the transport, pollution, tourisms, accommodations and congestion.
In the late 20th century, the unprecedented economic growth made the city wonderful and one of the favorite destinations of tourists.
Tourism, geography, culture, sports and natural landscapes have made Santiago a wonderful city. There are a lot of resorts, museums, cultural centers, a zoo, fun parks where a lot of recreational activities are easily available.
The creation of the fine arts museum, ridges over the Mapocho River, theme parks, beaches and grand hotels are among the most notable works in this city.
Santiago is one of the top 20 cities in the world to visit. This rank is based on our travelers' reviews. Please also take the time to rank Santiago or write a Santiago destination review or travel tip to share your opinion.Santiago is one of the "must visit" tourist destinations in the world. This rank is based on what other travelers shared about their experiences in Santiago.