Santiago de Chile

History

The city lies in a large valley, sandwiched between the Andes Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. This part of Chile was inhabited for centuries by the Pichunes, an Indian tribe that endeavored to maintain peaceful relations with their powerful Inca neighbors further north. The fertile, rich plains provided an ideal base for the Pichunes to build a settlement; they farmed the land for centuries enjoying a peaceful and prosperous existence.

Enter the Conquistadors! In the 16th century, Spanish explorers gradually conquered most of South America, including Chile. History records that one Pedro de Valdivia arrived in the area we today know as Santiago and quickly claimed the land for the Spanish Crown. He founded a small settlement, Santiago de me Nueva Extremadura in February 1541. Named after the Spanish Saint James and his place of birth, the village benefited from ideal conditions for agriculture and a benign Mediterranean climate. Unfortunately for de Valdivia, his Incan neighbors to the north were not impressed with this development and tried to make their lives as difficult as possible by refusing to trade with the Spanish settlers. Despite these obstacles, he succeeded in building a series of streets and houses and consolidated his hold over Santiago.

The Inca’s were not the only problems that De Valdivia had to contend with. The indigenous Indian tribes, the Pichunes, attempted to take the settlement from the Spanish only six months after he had founded Santiago in his own name. Using an organized resistance, the Indian warriors destroyed most of the settlement and fought hard for over 20-months to drive the Spanish out. They failed ultimately when reinforcements arrived from the north; the tribe accepted defeat and relocated further south of Santiago.

A period of relative peace and stability followed the uprising, although the threat of an Indian attack always loomed over the Spanish. However, it was not until the end of the 18th century that the capital really got into its stride and a proper infrastructure was constructed, during this era, Santiago’s presidential palace, La Moneda, was built. Trade with neighboring colonial countries started to flourish and a wealthy class of landowners emerged who quickly ingratiated themselves with the cities ruling class.

Although Santiago’s wealth grew rapidly in the early 19th century, many in the capital were not sharing in this prosperity and tensions grew between its inhabitants and their Spanish rulers. After many years of conflict, Chile was declared an independent republic on February 12, 1818. The transition occurred with relative ease and during the era of the First Republic, although in reality, it was basically a one-party dictatorship, the capital’s population increased substantially. The city’s cultural life, now free of Spanish control, also started to blossom and Santiago’s first University opened in 1843.

Throughout the 19th century, great economic and social change permeated through the capital, its population rocketed as rural poverty forced hundreds of thousands into Santiago in search of a better future. Housing was hastily erected, not always of the best quality in the West of the city. Despite these problems, Santiago enjoyed many decades of prosperity and development. For this, we should largely thank one man – Benjamín Vicuna Mackenna. After Mackenna was elected mayor in 1872 he focused all his energies on giving Santiago a legacy to be proud of. One of his many feats was transforming the land in the Santa Lucia district into the beautifully landscaped public park that still exists today. He also oversaw the completion of the impressive Teatro Municipal and the Camino de Cintura. In 1857, the first train arrived in Santiago although the system was not fully operational until 1884.

Gastronomy & Wine

Chile is an incredibly diverse country encompassing a massive variety of landscapes, so as you might imagine it offers a vast range of food and drink. The country is very self-sufficient with seafood being a real highlight due to over 4000 KM of coastline. It is, in essence, evolved from typical Spanish cuisine using traditional Chilean ingredients, with a mix of European influence for good measure. Their wine industry, however, is completely their own and offers a fantastic selection of reds, whites and sparkling to satisfy any palate.

Santiago has been at the forefront of the food revolution sweeping the nation in recent years. An influx of young talented Chefs, both from within Chile and aboard are changing the city’s restaurant scene for the better. New restaurants and bars have been appearing overnight, transforming once abandoned neighborhoods into thriving foodie haunts. Discerning locals head to the Vega Central district to eat in good value restaurants serving hearty Chilean fare. Fancy something more upmarket? Then discover one of the many high-class restaurants in the Bellavista district, where trendy new restaurants are opening every day.

The city’s regional cuisine is largely based around seafood, restaurants serve literally every type of seafood you could imagine-from shrimp, salmon, sea bass, squid, octopus, crab, and tuna. European immigration has naturally affected the cuisine, locals enjoy the ubiquitous empanada for lunch – it’s cheese or meat-filled pastry that is folded in half, creating a pocket of cheese, meat, chicken, seafood or vegetables. Soups and stews are also popular, the pastel de choclo, containing corn, mincemeat, and chicken, is like a Chilean Shepherd’s Pie. Wine lovers are spoilt, as several of Chile’s major wine regions are easily accessible from the capital.

Chile has an astonishing variety of diverse wine regions and styles, light aromatic whites and full, intense delicious reds are in abundance. Cabernet Sauvignon grown in Rapel equals the best in the world, Chile’s signature grape variety Carmenere works very well with their hearty stews and meat dishes. Tourist centers in Santiago will be happy to organize weekend excursions to regions like Casablanca, Rapel, and Maipo. A wine paradise awaits you!