Santiago de Chile Sights

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• Parque Metropolitano - This vast park is home to Cerro San Cristóbal. From the top there is a beautiful view over the city and, on a clear day, the Andes. The summit can be reached by funicular ($900 one way, $1600 return), cable car, or a long hike. In the park there is also a botanical garden, zoo and two swimming pools. Pope John Paul II visited its summit in 1987.

• Plaza De Armas - The capital's main plaza, also the site of the national cathedral and main post office. Not very clean but otherwise an interesting area of major historical importance.

• Santiago Centro - The Centro (Downtown) area is a nice place for a stroll down some of its major Paseos (streets turned pedestrian walkways), but be aware of pickpockets.

• Cerro Santa Lucia - A park with fountains and stairs leading up to the top. The summit has a great view of all but the skyscraper-obscured city center. Charles Darwin visited this peak at one point in his travels.

Santa Lucia Park in Santiago

• La Chascona - One of three homes of the famous poet Pablo Neruda, La Chascona (meaning tangle-haired woman, after his third wife) is in the artistic Bellavista neighborhood. The house is filled with lots of quirky artifacts collected by Neruda throughout his life, as well as artwork by some of his famous friends. Tours are given in English, French ($3500) and Spanish ($2500). www.fundacionneruda.org/informacion_chascona.htm

• La Moneda Palace - Presidential Palace, guided one-hour tours are free, unfortunately with a reservation of at least 15 days in advance. www.presidencyofchile.cl/view/viewarticulo.asp?idarticulo=224&seccion=Visitas%20Guiadas

• Parque Forestal - A long park that runs parallel to the Mapocho River, also site of the National Museum of Fine Arts and Modern Art Museum.

• Theatre & Dance - Santiago offers much in the performing arts, most takes place Friday & Saturday, check listings in El Mercurio. $500-5000 CLP, most offer discounts with student ID, even to foreigners, just ask.

• Centro Cultural Matucana 100 - Inaugurated in 2002, Matucana 100 is an excellent exhibition venue for a variety of arts. From Metro Quinta Normal, walk south on Matucana (towards Alameda), M100 is on the left hand side. www.m100.cl/pages/home.htm

• Teatro Municipal - Historical performance venue, including international dance and opera, worth a visit even if just from its outside. www.municipal.cl

• Jazz Clubs - Santiago is home to an impressive jazz scene, with several intimate clubs scattered throughout the city. The Club de Jazz de Santiago is arguably the best. Located in the northern part of the Nunoa neighborhood, this small club routinely brings in some of the best local, national, and international artists specializing in everything from latin jazz to blues to bossa nova. Check music listings in El Mercurio.

• Festival de Jazz de Providencia - A very good jazz Festival takes place during summer (typically each February) in Providencia. The Festival de Jazz de Providencia takes place each year in Mapocho's riverside and showcasts the best local bands and some international guests. Tickets are cheap (from about 3 USD in the 2007 edition), so it's a good alternative for summer nights.

• Parque Bicentenario, Bicentenario Avenue, vitacura. Parque Bicentenario, Bicentenario Avenue. Beautiful park, still in construction. Large extension of grass, children games, dog games, a very nice pond with black neck swans. There is also a restaurant, a cafe (Le fournil) and Vitacura's city hall. Trails for wailking and bikes
• Iglesia y museo de San Francisco, Av. Lib. Bernardo O'Higgins 834, ☎ 6398737. Museo: Mon-Fri: 9h30-13h30 15h00-18h00, Sun: 10h00-14h00. The oldest church in the city. In the plaza, in front of the church, there is a Moaï from Easter Island. Museo: $1000. No pictures inside.
• Palacio Cousino, 438 calle dieciocho, www.palaciocousino.cl. Mon-Fri: 9h30-13h30 14h30-17h00, Sat-Sun: 9h30-13h30. Old palace owned by a wealthy spanish-portuguese family. The architecture is a mix of spanish and french style. $2100. Guided tour only. No pictures inside.

• www.fundacionneruda.org/informacion_chascona.htm
• www.presidencyofchile.cl/view/viewarticulo.asp?idarticulo=224&seccion=Visitas%20Guiadas
• www.m100.cl/pages/home.htm
• www.municipal.cl
• www.palaciocousino.cl