Santiago

Santiago de Chile established on both banks of the Mapocho River is located on a beautiful valley at the foot of the Santa Lucía Hill, between the Cordillera de la Costa range and the Andes. The fifth largest city in South America, it is a city of contrasts between modern and old architecture. Santiago is the central point of the long, thin country of Chile.

The Mapuche destroyed it in 1541, only six months after Pedro de Valdivia founded it, but soon the Spanish were back and building it up again. Today, it is home to nearly 5 million inhabitants--over a third of all Chileans.  There were celebrations and banners celebrating 469 years since their formation.

Only 60 km away are the main South American ski centers, and the beaches of the Pacific are only an hour's drive to the northwest. Just south of Santiago lie the vineyards of the Maipo Valley. Nearby are hot springs centres and placid haciendas dating back to the 17th Century.

The main road - Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins (known to Santiagans as the Alameda) is a 5km avenue running through the centre of Santiago. At the heart of Santiago is the Plaza de Armas. which is surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral and other historical buildings. Santa Lucia  is the hill upon which the Spanish founded Santiago in 1541. It is a lone steep rock, with many plants and an antique building rising steeply from the city below.

The Museum Columbia just off the main Place de Armes houses an interesting collection of artefacts mainly from western South America.
 
The city's European heritage is evident in the Parque Forestal, designed by a French landscaper on the model of Parisian parks. Walkers pass down tree-lined paths along the Mapocho, past small squares and the Museo de Bellas Artes. The Mercado Central is of British design, with wrought-iron ceiling parts that were imported from England in the mid 19th century.

Bellavista
Across the river, the Bellavista neighborhood is home to many restaurants and cafes. Stunning views of the city can be seen from the top of Cerro San Cristòbal, accessible by bus, funicular, or by a vigorous hike. Also in the Bellavista area is La Chascona, the house designed by Nobel-Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda -whose work recently gained popularity in the film ‘Il Postino’.

Maipo Valley Vineyards

We travelled south to the Maipo river valley, where the largest and most important Chilean vineyard was founded: Concha y Toro. This area is ideal for the production of the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that are used to produce the most traditional red wine of the country. Founded in 1884, this vineyard uses the most modern technology for its refrigeration equipment, stainless steel tanks, filters, and casks made of American and French oak. We visited the private park of the family, the historical museum and the cellars and the caves, where amongst others the legendary “Casillero del Diablo” (Cellar of Devil) is. This was so called because the owner was tired of people taking his wines so he stored it in the deepest and darkest cellar and made up a story about a phantom devil so that no one would dare go in there.
 
Red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and carmeniere - the grapes were introduced in the early 1980 from France. The carmeniere grape was killed by disease in France so Chile now produces the majority of carmeniere wines in the world. White wines are predominantly Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. Chile is now the firth largest exporter of wines and the ninth largest producer.