ATTRACTIONS

San Francisco Church and Convent.
It is the oldest building in Santiago and the only one that is representative of the 16th century. It was founded in 1554 by the first Franciscans who arrived from Peru. On the main altar, it is possible to admire a statue of the "Virgen Del Socorro" (Our Lady of Help), the first religious image to arrive in Chile. It was brought by Pedro de Valdivia himself. The church boasts a golden polychromatic ceiling and several religious images from the colonial days.
On the ground floor the convent houses the Museum of Colonial Art with an invaluable collection of paintings, imagery, goldsmith artwork and locksmith work. The biggest treasure it has to show is a series of large paintings portraying the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, which is a beautiful example of the Cuzco School of Painting.

"La Merced" Basilica.
The present church is the third one built after the collapse of the two others because of the earthquakes which hit the city. It was built between 1736 and 1760. The first architectural sketches were designed by the architect Joaquín Toesca, who also designed the Cathedral.
Inside, there are three spacious naves which show valuable works of art, such as a beautifully carved pulpit dating from the 18th century and a statue of "Our Lady of Mercy", brought by the priest Antonio Correa in 1548. The church is also noted because several well-known historical characters are buried here.
There is a three-room museum with important religious images and objects of cult. It holds one of the most complete collections from Easter Island. Address: Mac Iver 341.

Santo Domingo Church.
Three buildings were razed by rigorous earthquakes before the actual church was constructed. . The building of this neo-classical structure that shows local influence began in 1747. It was entrusted to the architect Juan de los Santos Vasconcellos, and finished by Joaquin Toesca in 1796.
It houses a series of colonial paintings of Santo Domingo Every Thursday numerous faithful leave offerings to the image of Our Lady of Pompeii.
Address: Santo Domingo 961, corner of 21 de Mayo.

Bellavista Neighbourhood.
Located between the Mapocho River and Mt San Cristobal, currently It is a bohemian neighborhood, a haven for intellectuals, writers, actors, musicians, plastic artists and artisans.
Its picturesque streets are full of restaurants offering typical and international dishes, theaters, art galleries, lapis lazuli (a beautiful blue gemstone) vendors, discos, bars and cafés, turning this into one of the most attractive areas of Santiago.

It was born as a residential neighborhood back in the 1920s. Decades later, numerous intellectuals, such as Camilo Mori, Oreste Carlini and the national bard Pablo Neruda would settle in the area.
Among the main attractions in the neighbourhood are the Museum-Residence "La Chascona", the former house of the poet Pablo Neruda, winner of the Nobel Prize of Literature, and his wife, Matilde Urrutia. The house, which is a National Monument, consists of various levels with staircases and trees which provide it with a singular charm. At present, it is the home of the Neruda Foundation, which organizes diverse cultural activities, such as book presentations, exhibitions, conferences and poetry workshops. It is also possible to take guided visits during which one can view some of the poet's manuscripts and the paintings by his friends such as Siqueiros and Rivera.
The Poet's Square has been built on one of the sides of the house, it is a sort of open-air amphitheater in which several cultural events take place. Address: Fernando Marquez de la Plata 192.

Mt San Cristobal is one of the most popular attractions among tourists. Crowned by an image of the "Immaculate Conception", it is an outstanding and very easily accessed vantage point.. Located within the Metropolitan Park, it offers a children's playground, swimming pools and a zoo. You enter it from "La Piramide", Pedro de Valvidia Norte and Pio Nono.

Paris-Londres Neighborhood
Its beautiful mansions of various styles, built between 1923 and 1929 by distinguished architects such as Cruz Montt and Larrain Bravo, create a nostalgic and evocative atmosphere along its narrow stone streets which start from San Francisco Square. Owing to its architectural value, it was declared a Typical Zone in 1982, thus stopping any attempt to modify the original environment.

Brazil Neighborhood.
Its stately mansions built in the mid-19th century, have now been turned into cultural centers, art galleries, workshops or restaurants. It was originally inhabited by wealthy aristocratic families that later moved to the eastern side of Santiago. Some time later, middle-class professionals and intellectuals arrived to the neighborhood, gradually turning it into one of the axes of cultural activity in the city.

"Pueblito de Los Dominicos" (Los Dominicos Small Ton).
It consists of approximately 180 workshops and stores selling Chilean craftsmanship, restaurants offering typical dishes and exhibition galleries. Artisans sell their works of art made of lapis lazuli, ceramics, wicker, copper and leather, and they do them at the same time so you can observe them at work. It is surrounded by a botanical garden. Its official name is "Center of Chilean Craftsmanship Graneros del Alba". Address: 9085 Apoquindo Avenue.