Santiago Walking City Tour

Next to the Subway station of the same name, "Bellas Artes", there is a coffee, beer and conversation area, a "barrio" we call it, with the same name. Also, the public Museo de Bellas Artes next to it is the inspirational denomination for it. If it's not Monday, between 10 AM and 6 PM we are most likely to be admitted, as long as there is no strike or maintenance duties, in such case we can only admire its architecture from outside and the layout of the premises around it. Among signs of a lively city we can begin (or continue) our conversation about how is it to live by it nowadays, the year before, and what was the origin of the place and how it has endure the recent years. The guide must share some insight about it and then listen attentively to the questions, comments and thoughts of our visitor(s) about their own related urban experience and how they picture it from their own perspective. Then we continue conversation, as we friendly walk on.

Unless is Monday (when it's regularly closed) we can enter to the public park Cerro Santa Lucía by the north entrance. It's a small green lung in the middle of downtown where, as if a magic spell was cast upon, the city noise almost goes away and you can enjoy the beauty of green and oxygen as you carry on conversation. Be careful not to over-demand yourself, we can take it to the main terrace or keep going until the top of the tower so some fitness is required! Depending on the point of observation we can admire up close a portion of our city. There is no whole view angle of it from here, but that's precisely the point to find our own point of interest in this "little jungle" we have created for amusement of visitors and locals. Be aware of the uneven trails in the terrain, after all, you are walking on a rock. Visitors will be able to make pictures, check lookout points and share insight on historic and current activities placed in the city.

Through the honking of cars and the noise of undistinguished conversation we make it into the Constitution Square, north of the Civic box and The City, it is the heart of the public administration of our country: Palacio de la Moneda, Palacio de Gobierno. Built in order to be the mint house, was inaugurated in 1804, few years before the chilean colony began its emancipation process to become a nation of its own. Built with a mixture of techniques it was a proper school of handicraft led by roman architect Joaquín Toesca, who arrived in the colonial Santiago in 1780 with the mission to complete this construction task, he never saw it finished. A number of presidential statues surround the square adding each a piece to a chapter of our government history. The coup d'etat in 1973, took place here and the reminding of it, plus other historic tokens in place, sets the tone for insight about human rights, civic duty and our hopes and expectations for the future.

In the former facility of the newspaper "El Mercurio", there is a commercial gallery that was inaugurated in 2012 and contains the entrepreneurial side of Santiago. Also a nice stop for bathroom and a classic story of construction, architecture and social life prior to the republican life and the history of the conservative Larraín and Edwards family, still relevant to the country public and private life. It's an appropriate bathroom stop and to have some coffee perhaps.

Before of an ample space dominated by flat water fountains and the statue of President Manuel Montt and Antonio Varas lays the impressive mass of the Supreme Court of Justice, immovable and controversial, we will usually find some lone (or not so lone) demonstrator at its gates, proving that justice, as blind, rarely feels "just" to all parties involved. And in front of it, where in another time a temple enjoyed worship and suffered tragedy, currently another republican institution holds it's facility and not exempt from controversy: it is the former National Congress, closed down after the cup d'etat in 1973. Today relevant meeting take place at this location where, in spite of being a public place we are not always allowed entrance. The guide shall share insight about the composition of our republic, the three powers of the state and our current public affairs under their view. No intention to convince anyone of anything here, but to share useful information por personal analysis.