Santiago is Chile's capital and its largest city. The Andes mountains around Santiago are quite tall, culminating in Tupungato volcano at 6,570 m (21,555 ft). Other volcanoes include Tupungatito, San José and Maipo. Cerro El Plomo is the highest mountain visible from Santiago's urban area. Approximately two decades of uninterrupted economic growth have transformed Santiago into one of Latin America's most modern metropolitan areas, with extensive suburban development, dozens of shopping malls, and impressive high-rise architecture.
Santiago has much to see and do. The city's main parks are San Cristóbal Hill, which includes the Santiago Metropolitan Park Zoo, Forestal Park, located at the city centre alongside Mapocho river and Cerro Santa Lucía. The city also has many museums.
Try to visit Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda, beneath the Citizenry Square in the south front of the government palace La Moneda, Museo Catedral Metropolitana, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and Museo Arqueológico de Santiago. Other places to visit include Barrio Bellavista (cultural and bohemian neighborhood), the Central Station (railway station designed by Gustave Eiffel), Plaza de Armas (downtown square) and Víctor Jara Stadium.
Three modern ski resorts are located within one hours’ drive from Santiago; Farellones, Valle Nevado and La Parva. Portillo is about 3 hours away. (Don’t forget, Santiago is in the southern hemisphere). Some of the country's most important wine growing areas lie in the nearby Maipo and Aconcagua Valleys.
