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Santiago Cultural Stuff |
Palacio Cousino
An opulent mansion built from 1870-1878 by French architect Paul Lathoud for Isidora
Goyenechea, widow of Luis Cosino and a member of one of Chile's most prestigious families.
The large mansion is in French rococo style with a superb Italian marble staircase. It was
constructed with imported materials and was the first building in Chile to have an
elevator and central heating.
Club Hipico
A beautiful horsetrack with interesting architecture located just west of O'Higgins Park.
Perhaps you'd even like to stay for the races!
Chile is well-known for its wine and vineyards. The Maipo Valley is considered by many experts to be the best wine-producing area of Chile. Vineyards can be visited from Santiago such as the 200 year old estate of Vina Santa Rita, or Concha y Toro, one of the largest exporters of fine wines in Chile, or Vina Cousino Macul, founded in 1871. Colchagua Valley to the south of the Central Valley is home to many a fine boutique vineyard and to the Wine Route.
Hacienda Los Lingues
Part of the Angostura Estate given in 1599 by King Philip III to the first mayor
of Santiago, Hacienda Los Lingues is a step back to colonial
days. It has remained in the same family for four centuries and is still preserved today
as one of the oldest and most representative of its time. Filled with antiques and family
momentos, Los Lingues' traditional dining room features gourmet dinners; and lunches are
casual events generally enjoyed in the garden.
Museums of Santiago:
Pre-Columbian Art Museum
If you only have time to visit one museum, this is the one to see. The museum is
an old eighteenth century building that originally housed the Real Aduana, a government
office of Colonial times. It is now a modern museum with an extremely rich collection of
1,200 separate items of Pre-Columbian cultures of Central American and the Andean region.
Museum of Santiago
The history of Santiago from the Conquest to modern times. Interesting displays
and models. Worth a visit.
National Museum of Natural History
This museum was started in 1830 by the French citizen Claudio Gay and is located
in the Quinta Normal Park. It has exhibits on zoology, botany, mineralogy, anthropology,
ethnography and archaeology. The museum includes an interesting exhibition of Easter
Island.
Palacio de Bellas Artes
Lovely neo-classical building with an open central hall beneath an arched, iron
and glass ceiling. The museum was inaugurated on Chile=s centennial celebration, in 1910,
and features excellent exhibits from around the world.
Museum of Colonial Art of the San Francisco Church
This is the oldest building in Santiago, dating to 1572. The church itself holds
the remains of the Coinquistadores. Alongside the church is the convent, now used as a
Museum of Colonial Religious Art. The exhibition consists mainly of religious scenes of
the life of St. Francis and a comprehensive collection of colonial religious art that
confirms the influence of the Catholic Church in the early development of the Colonies.
Museum de la Merced
Religious icons, handicrafts and an interesting Easter Island exhibit.
Casas de Lo Matta
A tradional farmhouse of the XVIII century. At present it is a living museum with
an important collection of silverware, paintings, textiles, furniture and objects dating
back to colonial times.
Museo Ferroviario
Located in Quinta Normal, this is an open-air railroad museum with 13 steam
engines built between 1884 and 1953.
Museo Ralli
Contains a collection of works by modern European and Latin American artists,
such as Dali, Chagall, Bacon and Miro.