General Cemetery of Santiago, Santiago

This eighty-five hectare expanse is a final resting place for all but two Chilean presidents as well as many notable Chilean citizens, including political leaders and poets. The area abounds in spectacular mausoleums and tombs, some of which were crafted by the greatest sculptors in Chile, and is surrounded by gardens, lanes, leafy trees and beautiful sculptures. The monument to a suffering sculptor, by Carrier Belleuse, is found at the entrance to the cemetery, with more elaborate tombs lying further afield. Victims of the 1863 Iglesia de la Compania (Church of Companion) are buried here.

A memorial to the late president Salvador Allende makes this cemetery one of the top visited sites in the country. Reportedly, Allende committed suicide during the coup of 1973 staged by General Augusto Pinochet. The coup led to the establishment of Junta regime. After Chile returned to democracy in the 1990s, the remains of Salvador Allende were exhumed from the Santa Ines Cemetery and placed at the General Cemetery of Santiago. Also, there is a memorial to those who disappeared during Pinochet's rule.

The land on which the cemetery is laid out was set aside by Chilean independence leader and founding father Bernardo O'Higgins in 1819, after the country proclaimed independence. To date, there are over two million burials on the ground, making it the one of the largest burial sites in Latin America.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Santiago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: General Cemetery of Santiago
Sight Location: Santiago, Chile (See walking tours in Santiago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Recoleta Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Santiago, Chile

Create Your Own Walk in Santiago

Creating your own self-guided walk in Santiago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Historical Churches and Cathedrals

For a country relatively small in terms of population, Chile is quite rich in two things: coastline and churches. Thanks to the Spanish founders of the Chilean capital, the majority of Santiago鈥檚 temples are Catholic. Given that most of them are conveniently located in the downtown area, checking out these historic religious sites doesn鈥檛 take too much time.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles

Bellavista Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Santiago Introduction Walking Tour

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Start your trip from Santa Lucia Hill which has one of the best views of Santiago and the Andes... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

Recoleta Walking Tour

Established under the rule of Pinochet, Recoleta is perhaps the most famous of all the Santiago communes. It is undeniably one of Chile鈥檚 most multicultural places, replete with historic and architectural attractions: churches, parks and more.

The Franciscan Church and Convent of Recoleta 鈥� built in 1843, this Neoclassical complex with Tuscan influence was declared a National Monument in... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles

Santiago Shopping and Food Tour

Santiago is a busy, walkable city, with a fairly compact downtown bursting with exciting places to dine and shop. In recent years, Chile's affluence has prompted many international retailers to open their stores in the country's capital. Here you can shop practically for everything: from food to clothing to gifts and beyond, much as your bank account allows you.

The pedestrian zones... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

Souvenir Shopping Guide: 14 Made-in-Chile Goods to Bring Home from Santiago

Unlike the late 20th century, when Chile was largely associated with oppressive regime, today's Chile is known primarily for its premium wines and colorful crafts. If you're fortunate to visit the country's capital city Santiago de Chile, you will find yourself spoiled for choice with...

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