Winter in Santiago

© Creative Commons / fahrenheit75

-300
Santiago Local time
Sunny
3
4
°C
Chile

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.