In the center of Santiago, there is a hill called Cerro Santa Lucia, Chile. It’s a beautiful place to spend an afternoon during your visit to the city. The hill is a labyrinth of walkways, stairs, and passage ways that let you tour the remains of the old defensive forts of the 19th century and the subsequent renovations made to transform it into a public space. After you walk through ornate iron gates, you’ll first be greeted by a gorgeous yellow building with sweeping steps.
This was built as part of the city’s renovation of the space in the late 1800s and makes for great photo opportunities. As you hike up, you’ll come across a some great open spaces, perfect for enjoying a good book. Vendors along the way sell snacks and drinks. As you finally make your way to the top of the hill, you’ll get to tour the exterior of the chapel and the remnants of the old fortress. Climb right up to the top of the tower and you’ll understand why it was such an important defense lookout. It offers incredible 360 degree views of the city and the surrounding Andes mountains. You’ll see why Charles Darwin declared the view to be “certainly most striking” during his visit in 1833. Enjoy the photo tour below!
If you’d like to see Cerro Santa Lucia on your South America vacation let us know! CAT Travel offers wonderful Santiago tours.
