| At the eastern end of the Alameda -
the city’s busiest thoroughfare - the lushly forested Cerro Santa
Lucía is the most imaginative and exuberant piece of landscaping
in Santiago. Looking at it now, it’s hard to believe that for the first
three centuries of the city’s development this was nothing more than a
barren, rocky outcrop, completely ignored despite its historical
importance - for it was at the foot of this hill that Santiago was
officially founded by Pedro de Valdivia, on February 12, 1541. It wasn’t
until 1872 that the city turned its attention to Santa Lucía once more,
when the intendente of Santiago, Vicuña Mackenna, enlisted the
labour of 150 prisoners to transform it into a grand public park. |
|
| Almost Gaudíesque in
appearance, with its swirling pathways and baroque terraces and turrets,
this is a great place to come for panoramic views across the city, even
when they’re veiled behind a layer of smog. While it’s always busy and
safe by day, you should note that several muggings have been reported here
after dark, so hanging around to watch the sun go down, though tempting,
isn’t advisable. |