Plaza de Armas - City Plaza Santiago - Chile

The Plaza de Armas dates back to 1541 when Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago. The square was used as an army training ground, with a protected area in the middle that was used to store arms. The Spanish later built important religious and civic buildings in the surrounding area, including the Cathedral Metropolitana (1745), Municipalidad de Santiago (1785), the Palacio de la Real Audiencia (1804) and the Correo Central (1882). The plaza has been badly damaged several times by earthquakes and was last remodeled in 1999.

Today, the Plaza de Armas is a big draw for tourists who want to soak up the sun as well as some of Santiago’s past and current culture. There are several sidewalk cafés and the area attracts artists and street entertainers.

Location:
Plaza de Armas 444
Center, Santiago, Chile

City Plaza

Getting There
Go to Metro Plaza de Armas

Relative price: Free

Travel Skills: None

About this Page

By Noleen Turner
I'm originally from Northern Ireland but have lived in Santiago de Chile for over two years. I work in marketing communications and as a writer and...

Updated: 21 Aug 2009