R. Doug Wicker — Author

Basilica de la Merced

Plaza de Armas isn’t the only place in Santiago, Chile, with photo-worthy buildings.  Such sights are everywhere.  The reddish, twin-bell towered Basilica de la Merced is one such building.  The Basilica is five minutes walk from Plaza de Armas, and less than fifteen minutes by foot from Plaza de la Constitución.

Basilica de la Merced

Speaking of Plaza de la Constitución, take a look at this building:

Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Square)

Plaza de la Constitución is home to the Palacio de La Moneda (Coin Palace) which you see above.  The “Coin Palace” got its name from the fact that it used to house the mint.  Constructed between 1785 and 1805, Palacio de la Moneda acted as a coin mint until 1929, but in 1845 it also took on a very different role — the seat of the President of Chile and the President’s primary residence.  This has been the Palacio’s sole role since 1930, and Plaza de la Constitución was built in front of the Palace that year.

There are other interesting buildings surrounding Plaza de la Constitución as well, such as this interesting one on the southeast corner:

Intendencia de la Región Metropolitana (roughly translated to “City Hall”)

This green-roofed structure is the Intendencia de la Región Metropolitana, meaning it’s the Municipality of the Metropolitan Region, a.k.a., “City Hall”.

Now for some more architectural buildings and details in Santiago:

Edificio del Correo Central (Central Post Office Building) — Plaza de Armas

Church Trumpets

Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago (Royal Court Palace)

Santiago Statuary