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Santiago
 Since
the beginning of Spanish colonization, Santiago emerged as an alternative
way of life for many adventurers looking for fame and fortune in
the New World. Dissapointed with the lack of mineral, the adventurers
led by Don Pedro de Valdivia took advantage of the ideal conditions
of this soil for agriculture
 Starting
with the now so-called “Plaza de Armas” square, the city
was designed in such a way that the houses of important citizens
were the first ones in a squared order- typical of any city in Spain-
which is now known as the civic centre of Santiago. However, the
relentless indigenous attacks, the permanent war in the South and
the constant natural disasters kept this city with a very small
population size towards the beginning of the nineteenth century.
 Perhaps,
this is why tourists perceive it as a cosmopolitan city which still
preserves the warmth of a small town isolated by mountains and sea.
Despite the modernity shown by certain districs, the quick pace
of its streets, and the changes in the architectural design, Santiago
preserves some of its peacefulness and security of a small colonial
city far from metropolises.
 Enclosed
by mountains, Santiago city represents a geographic centre (also
as an administrative, economic and cultural centre) from which it
is possible to travel through a diverse landscape: the sea, the
mountain and fertile valleys where the Chilean wine is grown. This
is the reason why, people can enjoy many different outdoor activities
within a 100-kilometre radius, while living in Santiago.
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