martes, 15 de marzo de 2011
lunes, 7 de marzo de 2011
Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas is a central spot that remembers the original shape of our City and original dimension. This place is similar than a market square, was originally surrounded by markets and principal buildings been a draft square, then in the middle of XIX century, the square was forested, the last intervention was at 2000 where the grass were removed and replaced by a concrete flat floor, with trees and flowers, also the old pergola was re-made.
Now days the square is surrounded by the Santiago town hall, the National Mail Service, The preColombino Museum, The cathedral, hotels, restaurant and shops.
In the Square is common to find some street performance, like comedian doing stand up shows or artist selling their paintings.
On the Pergola there are people playing chess and suddenly some mime doing it show.
This is a really typical place you have to visit but be cautious with your personal stuff.
How to Get there
Subway : Plaza de Armas Station (L5)
Universidad de Chile station (L1) walk north by Ahumada st.
On the Pergola there are people playing chess and suddenly some mime doing it show.
This is a really typical place you have to visit but be cautious with your personal stuff.
How to Get there
Subway : Plaza de Armas Station (L5)
Universidad de Chile station (L1) walk north by Ahumada st.
miércoles, 2 de marzo de 2011
Riverside Walk
One of the well know characteristics of our city before the mountains is the river.
It's 96 km long and it go though Las Condes, Providencia, Santiago and other districts of the city, but maybe the most important are these. At the beginning of XXth Century the north border of the city was Mapocho river, then at the centenary of our nation lots of protects were made to celebrate that moment, one of them was to build a park and a museum on it. The park was very useful at that time, because the city needed to isolate the smell coming from a growing grave, and also it gives beauty to the city itself.
The park originally has a pond, where people used to sail in boats, now the pond was replaced by grass.
The park begins on Estación Mapocho, but the trees itself, begin on Mc iver Street. then you can walk next Mapocho River to the east and you will reach Plaza Italia. the park continues after Plaza italia called Balmaceda park, and if you walk even more, you will found "Parque de las Esculturas" in Providencia.
The urban idea of the park, is make a large corridor from Las Condes to the border of Quinta Normal and Santiago districts.
That's about 8,6 km long that you can go walking or by bike.
On Balmaceda Park there is a Caffe where you can also read and take a break on your way it's called Café Literario at Providencia (Salvador Station subway L1 )
On weekends it's a good option for family outlook or to do some sports, also just for a walk to enjoy the view.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Subway: Baquedano station, Salvador Station (L1), Los leones station (walk 2 blocks to the north)
Bellas artes Station (L5)
Estación Mapocho Station (L2)
It's 96 km long and it go though Las Condes, Providencia, Santiago and other districts of the city, but maybe the most important are these. At the beginning of XXth Century the north border of the city was Mapocho river, then at the centenary of our nation lots of protects were made to celebrate that moment, one of them was to build a park and a museum on it. The park was very useful at that time, because the city needed to isolate the smell coming from a growing grave, and also it gives beauty to the city itself.
The park originally has a pond, where people used to sail in boats, now the pond was replaced by grass.
The park begins on Estación Mapocho, but the trees itself, begin on Mc iver Street. then you can walk next Mapocho River to the east and you will reach Plaza Italia. the park continues after Plaza italia called Balmaceda park, and if you walk even more, you will found "Parque de las Esculturas" in Providencia.
The urban idea of the park, is make a large corridor from Las Condes to the border of Quinta Normal and Santiago districts.
That's about 8,6 km long that you can go walking or by bike.
On Balmaceda Park there is a Caffe where you can also read and take a break on your way it's called Café Literario at Providencia (Salvador Station subway L1 )
On weekends it's a good option for family outlook or to do some sports, also just for a walk to enjoy the view.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Subway: Baquedano station, Salvador Station (L1), Los leones station (walk 2 blocks to the north)
Bellas artes Station (L5)
Estación Mapocho Station (L2)
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| Parque Forestal |
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| Park in Providencia |
martes, 1 de marzo de 2011
La Vega Central - Recoleta and Cementerio General (Santiago's graveyard)
In the north zone of the city, above Mapocho river there is another face of the city, you find some folkloric places and activities. There is located one of the most places full of local colour and popular tradition "La Vega Central", is a big market of fresh goods and food, a very crowed place with a particular smell and lots of colours. In Vega you can eat some typical food at a very low price (about 3€ ,4$).
Crossing the street (map below) it's a little Vega, where you can also eat at low prices and buy stuff.
If you keep walking thought La Paz av. you may notice a change in atmosphere, from a crowed place like la Vega to a quiet and static place. Santiago's General Graveyard.
This place when you walk from la Vega is a bit shocking, the entrance is composed by a semicircle neoclassic building containing a plaza, in the middle a fire-fighter monument, in front of it the impressive entrance of the graveyard. This place is a city itself, big mausoleum, graves and tombs makes a place where you can lost easily.
The entrance is free also there are some tour at night, ask in reception
HOW TO GET THERE?
Cementerio General :
From Providencia av or Apoquindo av :
BUS: use lines 401 - 406 - 407 - 421 - 426 - 427 , get off on Moneda palace walk west till
Amunategi st. use line 301 to the north, get off on Santos Dumot st. and La paz av. walk north at
La Paz st.
SUBWAY : any station of L1, change in Baquedano to L5 (direction plaza maipu), then change to
L2 (direction vespucio norte), get of at Cementerios station. use south exit.
From Santiago Down-town
BUS: Get to San Diego st. (if you are from Alameda av. to the south) or Bandera st. (if you are
Alameda av. to the north) use 301 line
get off on Santos Dumot st. and La paz av. walk north at
La Paz st.
Get Santa Rosa av. (if you are from Alameda av. to the south) use line 203, get of at Arzobispo
Valdivieso av and Recoleta av.
Get Mc Iver st. (if you are from Alameda av. to the north) use 203 or 208, get of at Arzobispo
Valdivieso av. and Recoleta av.
SUBWAY: Get any Station of L1 and go Los Heroes station, change L2 (direction Vespucio Norte)
get off at Cementerios Station, use south exit
Vega Central :
Vega Central :
From Providencia av or Apoquindo av :
BUS: use lines 401 - 406 - 407 - 421 - 426 - 427 , get off on Moneda palace walk west till
Amunategi st. use line 301 to the north, get off on Artesanos and La paz av.
SUBWAY : any station of L1(direction San Pablo), change in Baquedano to L5 (direction plaza
maipu), then change to L2 (direction vespucio norte), get of at Patronato Station, walk thought
Lastra st. to west
From Santiago Down-town
BUS: Get to San Diego st. (if you are from Alameda av. to the south) use lines 301- 201
or Bandera st(if you are Alameda av. to the north) use lines 301- 201- 202- 223
get off on Artesanos and La paz av.
Subway: take any station L1 and try to get Los heroes station, then change to L2 (direction
vespucio norte), get of at Patronato Station, walk though Lastra st. to west
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| vega central map |
lunes, 28 de febrero de 2011
Overview Santiago
Santiago is the capital of Chile, it's population is 5.428.590 (INE 2002) and the region 6.061.185 (subdere).
it's area is 641,4 km².
The city was founded on February 12th 1541 by the conquer Pedro de Valdivia.
The city was founded between two rivers (one of them Mapocho) and a hill. The city beacause of the Spanish crown law was built on a regular square blocks, this is the traditional order for the cities in America.
The city was growing uniformly until the crisis at the beginning of XXth century, when lots of people came to the city looking for a job and they established at the outskirts of the city.
a second crisis change the city then the economic model changed and lots of industries in the sub-central area were abandoned and the workers unemployed.
Now days the city is in a proses stared on the 70's, focusing on the economic development to get in to a important point of economic transaction on south America. (must be cheked )
There are some new zones and landmarks in Santiago that are very remarkable on it's skyline, like the business zone where some new projects are been build like Costanera Center Tower, Titanium tower . On down-town Entel tower and San Cristobal hill at background is an icon of the city. The mountains at east let you know where the north is wherever in the city you are (?).
From San Cristobal hill you can see the whole city from the top at the big statue of the Virgin.
here is a picture taken from the hill to the city
it's area is 641,4 km².
The city was founded on February 12th 1541 by the conquer Pedro de Valdivia.
The city was founded between two rivers (one of them Mapocho) and a hill. The city beacause of the Spanish crown law was built on a regular square blocks, this is the traditional order for the cities in America.
The city was growing uniformly until the crisis at the beginning of XXth century, when lots of people came to the city looking for a job and they established at the outskirts of the city.
a second crisis change the city then the economic model changed and lots of industries in the sub-central area were abandoned and the workers unemployed.
Now days the city is in a proses stared on the 70's, focusing on the economic development to get in to a important point of economic transaction on south America. (must be cheked )
There are some new zones and landmarks in Santiago that are very remarkable on it's skyline, like the business zone where some new projects are been build like Costanera Center Tower, Titanium tower . On down-town Entel tower and San Cristobal hill at background is an icon of the city. The mountains at east let you know where the north is wherever in the city you are (?).
From San Cristobal hill you can see the whole city from the top at the big statue of the Virgin.
here is a picture taken from the hill to the city
Transantiago Routes A to C and subway
Here we explain the main routes and local routes (zones A to C) that may be useful to you trying to get somewhere.
This section includes the following districts:
Santiago (A)
Independencia, Renca, Recoleta, Huechuraba, Quilicura, Conchali (B)
Providencia, Las Condes, Viacura, Lo barnechea (C)
Alameda main routes:
This routes travel though the principal avenue of Stgo. Alameda, most of them transit from east to west but there are some that does not.
401 - 406 - 407 - 421 - 426 - 427 on this routes you will be able to travel from Moneda Palace to Los Dominicos and surroundings
405 mostly cover zone C you can travel from "Plaza Italia" to Santiago business discrict (vitacura av), Bicentenario Park, Clinica Alemana ...
Another av. Routes
409 if you are near Estación Mapocho and you want to travel to Pedro de valdivia (north side), Kennedy av, Parque arauco (Shopping), Alto las condes (shopping), Clinica las Condes, and Lo Barnechea ( Raúl Labbé Av.) this route is useful.
410 - if you are in Renca District, maybe visiting Renca's old side, and you want to get to Providencia district (north side) to visit "Parque de las Esculturas", business district (Providencia side) this routes is useful
Subway
If you are using subway you may probably use stations between "Republica" and "Baquedano" on line 1 .
Most of the landmarks of Santiago are located near those stations.
Also you may use some of line 5 station like "Plaza de armas" or Bellas Artes" where you find the places of the stations name, and also "Parque Forestal"
This section includes the following districts:
Santiago (A)
Independencia, Renca, Recoleta, Huechuraba, Quilicura, Conchali (B)
Providencia, Las Condes, Viacura, Lo barnechea (C)
Alameda main routes:
This routes travel though the principal avenue of Stgo. Alameda, most of them transit from east to west but there are some that does not.
401 - 406 - 407 - 421 - 426 - 427 on this routes you will be able to travel from Moneda Palace to Los Dominicos and surroundings
405 mostly cover zone C you can travel from "Plaza Italia" to Santiago business discrict (vitacura av), Bicentenario Park, Clinica Alemana ...
Another av. Routes
409 if you are near Estación Mapocho and you want to travel to Pedro de valdivia (north side), Kennedy av, Parque arauco (Shopping), Alto las condes (shopping), Clinica las Condes, and Lo Barnechea ( Raúl Labbé Av.) this route is useful.
410 - if you are in Renca District, maybe visiting Renca's old side, and you want to get to Providencia district (north side) to visit "Parque de las Esculturas", business district (Providencia side) this routes is useful
Subway
If you are using subway you may probably use stations between "Republica" and "Baquedano" on line 1 .
Most of the landmarks of Santiago are located near those stations.
Also you may use some of line 5 station like "Plaza de armas" or Bellas Artes" where you find the places of the stations name, and also "Parque Forestal"
domingo, 27 de febrero de 2011
TRANSPORTATION
There are many ways to travel inside the city, using public transport like bus or subway or using share taxi or just a cab.
Here we will explain the mass transit system, how to use it, tips and principal routes related to landmark or other stuff.
Santiago mass transit system its compose of two mayor systems, subway and bus.
They where build independent of each other but now they work together, something that has brought some troubles in the rush hour.
The subway is mostly covering central areas, like Santiago down town, the business district and surroundings, but also connects the most populated areas of the city like La florida, Maipú, La Cisterna, Puente Alto.
The system transport about 2,3 million people daily.
Tansantiago is the bus system in our city. their operation began on october 2005, and it has been thought lots of problems related to routes and price of the journey.
The system is composed by 2 types of routes, the main line (Troncales) and local lines ,
The main lines are routes that cover a big area of the city travelling thought more than one zone (explained above)
Local lines are mostly covering one zone.
The city has been divided in 10 zones named clockwise from A to J been A down-town Santiago.
Shared taxi system is a private system thar covers mostly the principal streets of the city, and you pay the journey you make.
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| Transantiago Zones |
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| Santiago Subway map |
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