Plaza de Armas

Like most Latin American countries settled by the Spanish, Santiago was built around one large central square, the Plaza de Armas. This is where the first colonizers ruled, resided and fraternized, and the city’s grid layout radiated out from this point. These days the hustle and bustle of cars and pedestrians as well as frequent construction projects fill the air, but step inside the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral for a moment of quiet reflection and to admire the neoclassical architecture and elaborately decorated altars. The cathedral is the fifth church to occupy its location since the arrival of the Spanish and was completed in 1800. Other important buildings surrounding the square include the central Post Office, the newly renovated National History Museum and the government building first used to house the Cabildo, the King’s representative governing body in Chile.