Santa Luc铆a Hill, Santiago (must see)
Santa Lucia Hill is 629 meters (2,064 feet) above sea level and 69 meters (226 feet) above the local area. This unique hill is the remainder of a 15 million-year-old volcano.
The hill was originally called Huel茅n in pre-colonial times. In 1541, Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia claimed the hill for the Spanish and named the hill Santa Lucia. Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago from Santa Lucia, making this hill an important historical site. During Santiago's early days, missionaries used the hill to pray and worship.
In the early 1800s, Manuel Olaguer Feli煤, a Spanish military engineer, built two forts on the hill. Castillo Hidalgo was built in 1820, and the fort is open to the public. Today, the site is home to an enormous park. A series of stone steps lead visitors to the top for an incredible view. The climb may be challenging, especially on a hot day.
The steep steps twist their way past terraces, trees, statues, fountains, and gardens that have been erected over the centuries. Each terrace allows visitors to rest before continuing. Don't miss the beautiful Neptune Fountain.
In 1849, United States Naval Officer James Melville Gilliss founded an American observatory on the hill. Gilliss sought to measure the solar parallax precisely. Chile purchased the equipment and formed Chile's first National Astronomical Observatory on the site.
Traditionally, an 1824 cannon is fired every day to mark the noon hour.
Why You Should Visit:
Santa Lucia Hill marks the site of Santiago's founding and is now a beautiful park in the middle of the city. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, discover the history of Santa Lucia, and enjoy a breathtaking view from the top of the hill.
Tips:
Visit on a clear weekend day. On the weekends, there is less traffic, and the air is often clearer with less smog. The clearer the air, the better your view of the mountains.
The hill was originally called Huel茅n in pre-colonial times. In 1541, Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia claimed the hill for the Spanish and named the hill Santa Lucia. Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago from Santa Lucia, making this hill an important historical site. During Santiago's early days, missionaries used the hill to pray and worship.
In the early 1800s, Manuel Olaguer Feli煤, a Spanish military engineer, built two forts on the hill. Castillo Hidalgo was built in 1820, and the fort is open to the public. Today, the site is home to an enormous park. A series of stone steps lead visitors to the top for an incredible view. The climb may be challenging, especially on a hot day.
The steep steps twist their way past terraces, trees, statues, fountains, and gardens that have been erected over the centuries. Each terrace allows visitors to rest before continuing. Don't miss the beautiful Neptune Fountain.
In 1849, United States Naval Officer James Melville Gilliss founded an American observatory on the hill. Gilliss sought to measure the solar parallax precisely. Chile purchased the equipment and formed Chile's first National Astronomical Observatory on the site.
Traditionally, an 1824 cannon is fired every day to mark the noon hour.
Why You Should Visit:
Santa Lucia Hill marks the site of Santiago's founding and is now a beautiful park in the middle of the city. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, discover the history of Santa Lucia, and enjoy a breathtaking view from the top of the hill.
Tips:
Visit on a clear weekend day. On the weekends, there is less traffic, and the air is often clearer with less smog. The clearer the air, the better your view of the mountains.
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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Santa Luc铆a Hill on Map
Sight Name: Santa Luc铆a Hill
Sight Location: Santiago, Chile (See walking tours in Santiago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Santiago, Chile (See walking tours in Santiago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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.
Santiago Introduction Walking Tour
Santiago is the political, financial, and cultural center of Chile. The capital city was founded on Santa Lucia Hill in 1541 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia. Surrounded by the snow-capped Andes, Santiago offers history, gorgeous architecture, world-class museums, and fabulous markets.
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
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
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
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.
The San Francisco Church 鈥�... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
The San Francisco Church 鈥�... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 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
The pedestrian zones... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Bellavista Walking Tour
One of Santiago's most enigmatic neighborhoods, Bellavista is a lively and quirky area akin to Montmartre in Paris. Known for its bohemian culture and thumping nightlife, the district is dotted with casual pubs, low-lit cocktail bars, discos and numerous eateries serving fusion cuisine. Many of the city's esteemed intellectuals and artists live in Bellavista, following in the footsteps... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 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...