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Photo: Carlos Figueroa, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The well put-together Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art houses various artefacts from Mesoamerica and South America, featuring cultures such as the Olmec, Maya, and Inca civilizations. Descriptions of the artefacts and the ancients' way of life are well-written in both English and Spanish. Highlights include a Mayan stone stele and Andean mummies, which precede their Egyptian counterparts.
The Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art is an art museum dedicated to the study and display of pre-Columbian artworks and artifacts from Central and South America.
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Museum located underneath the Presidential Palace, the Cultural Center has rotating art and cultural exhibitions all year. Local crafts and souvenirs are available at middle-high prices in the local gift shop. A café is also within the facilities. Note that most exhibitions are not free of charge, however, prices are very affordable.
Next to the Alameda there is the governmental palace, an Italian neoclassical palace surrounded by more modern buildings with ministries. The squares around them are lined by statues and under one of the squares is an interesting cultural center. Guided one-hour tours are free, but require a reservation of at least seven days in advance (Spanish only).
The city's second oldest church features beautiful colonial religious artwork, including Cristo de Mayo, a statue of Jesus. The thorn crown fell off during an earthquake and legend has that if someone tries to put the thorn crown back on Christ's head, a new earthquake will strike.
The oldest church in the city. In the plaza, in front of the church, there is a Moaï from Easter Island.
Historical performance venue, including international dance and opera, worth a visit even if just from its outside.
This colonial building functioned as the seat of the first Chilean leader after independence. It was closed for 14 years due to earthquake damage but has opened once again in 2024. It holds a museum of Santiago's history.