Elite Traveler Spring 2021

EXPLORE SANTIAGO GUIDE TO SANTIAGO

Encircled by the towering Andes Mountains and molded geographically by the Mapocho River, Parque Forestal and Parque Balmaceda, Santiago has been the capital of Chile since colonial times. Founded in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia and named after the biblical figure St James, Santiago remains the cultural, financial and political epicenter of the country. It’s also been the hot spot for a recent revolution: Chileans voted to rewrite their constitution in 2020 and will soon select a convention of 155 citizens to pen it. Seven million people call the city, with its 19th-century neoclassical architecture, winding side streets and distinct neighborhoods, home; it was also home to the city’s most beloved poet, Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda. It’s a walking metropolis, so you can explore the hidden garden patios of Bellavista, the street art of Lastarria and the design- forward Barrio Italia. It is rather easy to lose track of time here; fortunately, Santiaguinos (the locals) appreciate languid lunches and deferred dinners, meaning most restaurants offer continuous service. Mostly temperate, this southern hemisphere conurbation enjoys arid summers and occasionally nippy winters with salubrious (and recommended) shoulder seasons.

by Alexandra Cheney