Winter in Santiago
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Santiago history
Santiago was founded in 1541 by a small band of Spanish conquistadors - look for the plaques illustrating the city's growth in Plaza de Armas. After Chile's independence from Spain in 1818, the city experienced large-scale immigration from Europe.
Although Chile has remained relatively free from political turmoil, in 1973 a military coup brought General Augusto Pinochet to power, marking the beginning of a brutal 17-year dictatorship.
Chile's current president, Michelle Bachelet, was elected in 2006 - the country's first woman to be president.
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