TravelMuse, Inc.
Imagine · Experience · Share™
-
EXPLORE AND DISCOVER
-
RESEARCH AND PLAN TRIPS
-
MAKE RESERVATIONS
-
LOGIN / JOIN
Destination Information
Actions
Although Diego de Almagro had already acquired sufficient wealth in the conquest of Peru and was living a luxurious life in Cuzco, the prospect of conquering Chile was very attractive to him. A dispute with Francisco Pizarro had arisen over the subject of the city of Cuzco, and their relationship had deteriorated. Not wanting to stay in that tense situation, Almagro spent a great deal of time and money equipping a company of 500 men to go with him on his new journey. The conqueror departed from Cuzco at the beginning of July 1535, and headed straight for Chile.
Taking the route over the Bolivian plateau and crossing the high plains of El Callao, on the edge of Lake Titicaca, Almagro followed the banks of the Desaguadero River and finally after advancing through deserted mountain ranges he set up camp in Tupiza. In January 1536, he arrived in Argentina and made his way across the mountains, battling against the indigenous peoples who were defending their land. Nevertheless, he fought on towards the Andes through the pass of San Francisco, at over 4000 meters (13,000 feet) his company suffered from the effects of the heat during the day and the intense cold at night. It cost 10,000 natives their lives, as well as most of the horses.
At these heights, it seemed difficult to go on with the expedition and Almagro decided to take a group of his men with him to the Valley of Copiapó, where they managed to get provisions and take them back to the rest of his men. From there, they managed to continue their way through the valley of Aconcagua, and started exploring the country. After some time, Almagro realized that Chile would not be the easy conquest he had hoped it would be. Seeing that Chile was a land made up of indigenous tribes who worked the land and fiercely stood their ground, Almagro quickly came to the conclusion that the country was not the land of riches he had been led to believe. Diego de Almagro decided to go back to Peru, where Hernando Pizarro and Pedro de Valdivia topped him in the battle of the salt mines. Not long after, he died in Peru.
Pedro de Valdivia had taken part in a large number of battles by then. After helping Pizarro to win the battle against Almagro, he managed to obtain a rich mine of silver and a considerable number of natives to work for him. Valdivia was finally authorized by Charles V to conquer Chile. With the help of a number of people, Valdivia set out from Cuzco with 11 Spanish soldiers and 1000 Peruvian Indians. On the way he managed to accrue another hundred-odd soldiers. Valdivia entered the valley of Copiapó and after 11 months of expedition, he finally set up camp on the shores of the Mapocho River and founded the city of Santiago del Nuevo Extremo on February 12, 1541 in remembrance of the apostle Santiago, patron saint of Spain and for the region of Extramadura. The fertile land surrounded by irrigation ditches from the river Mapocho, provided him with water and the thickets made sure that there was wood. In addition, the hill called Huelen, now the present hill Santa Lucía served as a trench in case of attacks from the indigenous peoples.
The city was trapezium-shaped, confined by the river Mapocho on the north and south, the hills to the east and what is now the Avenida Brasil to the west. The land was divided into squares, and one of the most central squares was named the Plaza de Armas, in which Valdivia planted a cherry tree and called it the tree of justice. The north side of the square was reserved for the governor's residence El Cabildo and the jail, while the church was erected on the west side.
Six months after its foundation, the city was destroyed by chief Michimalongo's men. It was, however, immediately rebuilt in the same place.
During the Colonial period, the Mapuche uprising produced an exodus towards Santiago which concentrated upon the population. This led to the construction of twelve more churches and many residences. There were many earthquakes during this period, however, and only a few of the buildings were left standing. Some of these include the Iglesia de San Francisco (1618), which is still a church today, Velasco's residence Casa de Manso de Velasco (1730), the Posada del Corregidor (1750) and the house which once belonged to Mateo de Toro y Zambrano, which is known as the Casa Colorada today (1769).
During the Renaissance explorers and settlers founded many new cities; they built new bridges, as well as new roads and canals. It was during this era that architect Joaquín Toesca arrived in Santiago to build the Neo-Classical Palacio de la Moneda (1805), currently the residence and office building of Chile's president. He also built the Catedral de Santiago (1785), the Iglesia de la Merced (1795), the Iglesia de la Merced (1795), the Iglesia de Santo Domingo(1808)and the building of the Real Audiencia (1808), which is today the National History Museum.
After Chile's independence, Bernardo O'Higgins inaugurated the Alameda de las Delicias, along the old course of the river, planting four lines of poplars (1820) and founding the city's cemetery, or Cementerio General (1820). Finally when Santiago was decided to become the capital, Santa Lucía Hill was made into a public park.
In the 1900s the wealth from the salt mines, among other things, brought Santiago many new advances. The first newspapers appeared, as did the electric trams; large houses and buildings were built, such as the Subercaseaux House (1930), the Ochagavía House and the Irarrázaval House. The Museum of Fine Arts opened in 1910, and in 1913 construction began on the National Library (National Library).
During the 1950s and 1960s, the capital kept growing and expanding in every direction. In the 1970s, the country suffered radical changes in its politics. For the first time in history a socialist president, Salvador Allende, was legally elected. This socialist government developed a democratic and pluralistic attitude towards structural changes in the economy and reforms in society. But these were tense times, and the tension between political actors increased and led to a coup d'etat against the Chilean president on the 11th of September 1973. After the fall of Allende's administration, Augusto Pinochet Ugarte was installed as president, followed by Patricio Aylwin, Eduardo Frei Montalva, Ricardo Lagos and now presently, the first woman, Michelle Bachelet.
Copyright © 1999-2008 wcities.com All rights Reserved - Contact Wcities
-
Editorial Sections
-
TravelMuse Blogs
TravelMuse Partners
-
Company Information
-
Book with Confidence
Travel Booking Price Guarantee
Copyright © 2009 TravelMuse, Inc. All rights reserved.
