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125-568: It is located in the commune of Santiago , in front of the Plaza de Armas . The architectural ensemble of the cathedral is made up of the Archbishop's Palace , the Parish del Sagrario and the cathedral itself. All these buildings are considered national monuments. it was built between 1748 and 1906, designed by Joaquín Toesca and Ignacio Cremonesi. Many temples preceded the one that exists today,

250-489: A 14-metre (46 ft) statue of the Virgin Mary . Today, the statue is visible from various points in the city. However, the shrine was not completed until several decades later. The 1910 Chile Centennial celebrations marked the beginning of several urban development projects. The railway network was expanded, connecting the city and its growing suburbs with a new ring and route to Cajón del Maipo . A new railway station

375-474: A colonial Christ in a crucifixion attitude and a small granite altar. To its sides are, in the walls, the niches where some of the bishops and archbishops of Santiago rest. In addition to the diocesan bishops and archbishops, other prelates rest, such as the apostolic nuncio, Monsignor Aldo Laghi, whose only nunciature was that of Chile, being ordained a bishop on September 18 (chosen by him in homage to Chile), and dying in this country according to his wish. Behind

500-782: A dual patronage: The Order of the Virgin Mary of the Ransom of Captives of St. Eulalia of Barcelona. But the proper and definitive title is: Order of the Virgin Mary of Mercy of the Redemption of Captives. This name, however, does not come into general use until the 1290s and is not codified until the Albertine Constitutions of 1327. The 1272 Constitutions, further, establish Nolasco as the Order's founder:he has been constituted "servant, messenger, founder and promoter" of

625-583: A friend of the former treasurer of the Cathedral to buy an organ worthy of the cathedral building, while the National Congress approved the budget for it. In November 1849, the organ It arrived in Valparaíso by boat, and for its placement a choir had to be built over the main door of the cathedral, which in its first period was reinforced by fourteen English iron pillars arranged under it. At

750-486: A heated discussion about the actual implementation of mandatory earthquake standards in the city's modern architecture. Despite urban integration efforts, socioeconomic inequality and geosocial fragmentation remain two of the most important problems, both in the city and in the country. These problems have been considered one of the factors that led to the " Estallido Social " , a series of massive protests and severe riots carried out between 2019 and 2020. The protests led to

875-534: A house of welcome for redeemed captives. Reconstructing the Order's beginnings from the documentary record produces a far less detailed story. In this, the year 1218 plays no role. The founder first appears ca. 1226 as a collector of alms in Perpignan . By 1230 he was collecting alms for captives in Barcelona as the head of a small lay confraternity . On August 12, 1230, Maimó Gombal, a resident of Barcelona and

1000-477: A layer of smog blanketed the city. In response, the authorities implemented legislative measures to reduce industrial pollution and placed restrictions on vehicle use. To address the problem of transportation, the metro system underwent significant expansion, with lines being extended and three new lines added between 1997 and 2006 in the southeastern sector. In 2011, a new extension was inaugurated in Maipú, bringing

1125-539: A life of prayer and communal fraternity based on the Rule of Saint Augustine and the constitutions of the order. Eventually a feast day was instituted and observed on September 24, first in the religious order, then in Spain and France, and on February 22, 1696 Pope Innocent XII extended it to the entire church. The Mercedarians keep this day as a first class feast, with a vigil , privileged Octave and Proper Office under

1250-545: A man of some property, directed in his will that 100 Papal States scudi be handed over to Nolasco for the ransoming of captives. The bequest was not unusual, either in amount or intent, for Catalans of this era frequently included this pious good work in their testaments. What sets this particular bequest apart is that it contains the first notice of the redeeming work of Nolasco. Nothing is known about him before his appearance in Maimó's will and only very little afterwards. During

1375-704: A north–south direction and 35 km (22 mi) from east to west. The Mapocho River flows through the city. The city is flanked by the main chain of the Andes to the east and the Chilean Coastal Range to the west. On the north, it is bordered by the Cordón de Chacabuco , a mountain range of the Andes. At the southern border lies the Angostura de Paine , an elongated spur of the Andes that almost reaches

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1500-573: A powerful earthquake struck the city on 3 March 1985, causing minimal casualties but leaving many homeless and destroying numerous historic buildings. With the onset of the transition to democracy in 1990, the city of Santiago surpassed four million inhabitants, with the majority residing in the south, particularly in La Florida, which was the most populous area, followed by Puente Alto and Maipú. The real estate development in these municipalities, as well as in others such as Quilicura and Peñalolén,

1625-402: A semi-autonomous branch of Order by Pope Gregory XV in 1621. They eventually separated and became a fully independent Order. Some orders and congregations add particular vows, besides the three vows of religion. These additional vows are part of the nature of the profession of each order and are permitted by the church. They can be solemn or simple, perpetual or temporary. The Fourth Vow of

1750-525: A serious civil confrontation, which led to thousands of arrests and accusations of human rights violations. Meanwhile, the demonstrations registered serious episodes of violence against public and private infrastructure, mainly in the surroundings of Plaza Baquedano , with the Santiago Metro being one of the most affected by these episodes: more than half of its stations registered damage (several being partially set on fire) and only eleven months later

1875-498: Is neo-Gothic in style and white marble, and was inaugurated in 1912. Adjacent to the door of Calle Catedral is the carved wooden tombstone in memory of the Carrera brothers ( Javiera , Juan José , José Miguel and Luis Carrera ), whose tomb still remains unlocated inside the cathedral building. Also noteworthy for this nave are the tombs of Monsignor José Antonio Martínez de Aldunate , Bishop-elect of Santiago and Vice President of

2000-742: Is headed by a provincial delegate appointed by the President of the Republic, and it is also part of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, governed by a popularly elected governor . When the term Santiago is used without further clarification, it typically refers to Gran Santiago (Greater Santiago), the metropolitan area characterized by continuous urban development. This area includes the commune of Santiago and over 40 other communes, encompassing much of Santiago Province and parts of neighboring provinces . The definition of

2125-641: Is necessary, as Jesus Christ gave up his for us." In the 15th century, a movement grew up among the monasteries of the Order seeking a stricter lifestyle, keeping more exactly the Rule of St. Augustine under which the friars live. This spread and gained approval by the Master General of the Order. As a result of the Counter-Reformation , spurred by the Council of Trent (1545-1563), this goal

2250-575: Is present at over 1,000 meters of altitude. The natural vegetation of Santiago is made up of a thorny woodland of Vachellia caven (also known as Acacia caven and espinillo) and Prosopis chilensis in the west and an association of Vachellia caven and Baccharis paniculata in the east around the Andean foothills. Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy The Royal, Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and

2375-548: Is the Tupungato mountain at 6,570 m (21,555 ft). Other mountains include Tupungatito , San José , and Maipo . Cerro El Plomo is the highest mountain visible from Santiago's urban area. During recent decades, urban growth has outgrown the boundaries of the city, expanding to the east up the slopes of the Andean Precordillera . In areas such as La Dehesa, Lo Curro, and El Arrayan, urban development

2500-538: Is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas . It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region , which has a population of seven million, representing 40% of Chile's total population. Most of the city is situated between 500–650 m (1,640–2,133 ft) above sea level . Founded in 1541 by

2625-475: The Apostle James , the patron saint of Spain. The city was established near Huelén, which Valdivia renamed Santa Lucía. He assigned the city's layout to master builder Pedro de Gamboa , who designed a grid plan . At its center, Gamboa placed a Plaza Mayor , which became the town's central hub. Surrounding the plaza, plots were designated for the cathedral , the jail, and the governor's house . The city

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2750-525: The Arauco War . Santiago was left vulnerable, and a coalition of Mapuche and Picunche tribes led by chief Michimalonco destroyed the city on 11 September 1541, despite the efforts of a Spanish garrison of 55 soldiers defending the fort. The defense was led by Spanish conquistadora Inés de Suárez . When she realized they were being overpowered, she ordered the execution of all indigenous prisoners, displaying their heads on pikes and throwing some towards

2875-619: The Army of the Andes emerged victorious at the Battle of Chacabuco and restored the patriot government in Santiago. However, independence was still uncertain. The Spanish army achieved further victories in 1818 and advanced toward Santiago, but their progress was finally halted at the Battle of Maipú on April 5, 1818, on the Maipo River plains. With the end of the war, Bernardo O'Higgins

3000-483: The Central Post Office is currently located. Probably, originally it must have consisted only of a chapel made of light materials, such as straw and mud; and at least since 1544, there is news that masses were no longer celebrated outdoors, so a suitable building had to be created to carry out Catholic practices. Between 1566 and 1600 the first cathedral temple was built. With much smaller dimensions than

3125-592: The Edificio Diego Portales was constructed in 1972. In 1967, the new Pudahuel International Airport was opened, and after years of discussion, construction of the Santiago Metro began in 1969. The first phase of the Metro, which ran beneath the western section of Alameda, was opened in 1975 and soon became one of the most prestigious buildings in the city. Over the following years, the Metro continued to expand, with two perpendicular lines in place by

3250-464: The First Crusade , many hospices and hospitals were organized by the chapters of cathedrals or by the monastic orders . Within the communal organizations of towns, local charitable institutions such as almshouses were established by confraternities or guilds , or by successful individual laymen. Broader-based and aristocratically-funded charitable institutions were more prominent, and

3375-809: The First National Government Board ; and that of Monsignor Joaquín Larraín Gandarillas , founder and first rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile , inside a bronze sarcophagus. In this section there are eight side altars, dedicated to: 33°26′15.57″S 70°39′6.50″W  /  33.4376583°S 70.6518056°W  / -33.4376583; -70.6518056 Santiago Santiago ( / ˌ s æ n t i ˈ ɑː ɡ oʊ / , US also / ˌ s ɑː n -/ ; Spanish: [sanˈtjaɣo] ), also known as Santiago de Chile ( Spanish: [san̪ˈtja.ɣo ðe ˈtʃi.le] ),

3500-499: The National Stadium emerged in 1938. In the following decades, Santiago continued to grow at an unprecedented rate. In 1940, the city had a population of 952,075 residents, which increased to 1,350,409 by 1952, and reached 1,907,378 in the 1960 census. This growth was reflected in the urbanization of rural areas on the outskirts of the city, where middle and lower-class families with stable housing were established. In 1930,

3625-639: The Picunche people (as they were known to Chileans) or the Promaucae (as referred to by the Incas) were under Inca rule from the late 15th century to the early 16th century. The Incas established a settlement of mitimas in the valley, located in the center of present-day Santiago, with fortifications such as Huaca de Chena and the El Plomo hill sanctuary. According to Chilean historian Armando de Ramón ,

3750-407: The Picunche people who lived in the area. Valdivia later called a meeting with the local chiefs, during which he explained his plan to establish a city on behalf of Charles IV of Spain . The city would serve as the capital of his governorship of Nueva Extremadura . On 12 February 1541, Valdivia officially founded the city of Santiago del Nuevo Extremo ( Santiago of New Extremadura ) in honor of

3875-516: The Rule of Saint Augustine as a norm for their life in common and he gave his authorization for the sign of his cathedral, the Holy Cross, to be on the habit of the Order. After that, Nolasco and the first Mercedarians made their religious profession there before the bishop. Their headquarters was the Monastery of St. Eulalia of Barcelona, which served as the first Mercedarian convent and as

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4000-888: The Teatro Municipal opera house and the Club Hípico de Santiago . In addition, the 1875 International Exposition was held in the Quinta Normal grounds. Santiago emerged as the central hub of the national railway system. On 14 September 1857, the first railway arrived in the city and terminated at the Santiago Estación Central railway station , which was under construction at the time and officially opened in 1884. During this period, rail lines connected Santiago to Valparaíso and regions in northern and southern Chile. The streets of Santiago were also paved, and by 1875, there were 1,107 railway cars in

4125-409: The church of San Francisco in 1572. Both of these structures were primarily made of adobe and stone. In addition to the construction of significant buildings, the city began to thrive as the surrounding areas welcomed tens of thousands of livestock. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the growth of the city was hindered by a series of disasters including an earthquake , a smallpox epidemic in 1575,

4250-418: The ministries and other public services, as well as the start of the construction of medium-rise buildings. Meanwhile, the traditional residents of the center began to migrate to more rural areas like Providencia and Ñuñoa, which attracted the oligarchy and European immigrant professionals, and San Miguel for middle-class families. Additionally, in the periphery, villas were built by various organizations of

4375-435: The 1250s and 1260s. While evidence is scant, one has to assume that this support came in recognition of the Order's work in ransoming captives in a war zone that remained quite active. The growing pains, however, also caused institutional turmoil, whose outlines can only be glimpsed. The visible result was a reorganization in 1272 by a new master, Pere d'Amer  [ ca ] . James I, whose descendants claimed him to be

4500-495: The 1980s when the government embraced a neoliberal economic model. In 1979, the master plan was revised, expanding the urban area to over 62,000 hectares for real estate development. This led to urban sprawl , particularly in La Florida , causing the city to reach 40,619 hectares in size in the early 1990s. According to the 1992 census, Santiago became the country's most populous municipality, with 328,881 residents. Tragically,

4625-532: The Archbishop sits during religious services). Right on the pilaster located in front of the canopy of the chair, there is a large painting that exhibits the coat of arms of the Archbishop in office. In the center of the presbytery is the new fixed altar, made up of a smooth block of granite, guarded by a set made up of a crucifix and six silver candlesticks, as required for the Pontifical Mass. Behind

4750-630: The Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (or the Order of Merced , O.Merc. , Mercedarians , the Order of Captives , or the Order of Our Lady of Ransom ) was one of many dozens of associations that sprang up in Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries as institutions of charitable works. The work of the Mercedarians was in ransoming impoverished captive Christians (slaves) held in Muslim hands, especially along

4875-539: The Congress mostly meets in nearby Valparaíso . In Chile, several entities share the name Santiago , which can often lead to confusion. The commune of Santiago , also referred to as Santiago Centro , is an administrative division encompassing the area occupied by the city during colonial times. It is governed by the Municipality of Santiago and led by a mayor. This commune is part of Santiago Province , which

5000-659: The Dowry” in the context of a revival of devotion to her “to obtain the rescue of England as Our Lady's Dowry ”, i.e., to reverse England's formal separation from the Roman Catholic Church and restore papal supremacy . In the Philippines , the oldest known center of devotion to Our Lady of Mercy is in Bahay Pare, Candaba , Pampanga , whom they call " Nuestra " or " Apung de la Merced ". Devotees flock to

5125-546: The Mapocho River floods in 1590, 1608, and 1618, and a devastating earthquake on 13 May 1647 which resulted in the death of over 600 people and affected over 5,000 others. Despite these setbacks, the capital of the Captaincy General of Chile continued to grow, with all the power of the country being centered on the Plaza de Armas in Santiago. In 1767, the corregidor Luis Manuel de Zañartu launched one of

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5250-555: The Mercedarian Order of 1272, three key elements referring to the foundation stand out: the name, the founder and the purpose of the Order. The name with which the Order founded by Nolasco is identified, is mentioned first. Prior to the 1272 Constitutions, the Order had several names among which: Order of Saint Eulalia, Order of the Mercy of Captives, Order of the Redemption of Captives, Order of Mercy. Those of 1272 established

5375-609: The Mercedarian founder, had in fact no documented contact with the Order until the late 1230s and early 1240s, at which time he granted formerly Muslim lands in Valencia, especially the Shrine of Santa Maria del Puig , patron saint of the kingdom. It was not until the 1250s that royal patronage becomes evident, when the king granted the Order his guidaticum (a form of diplomatic protection), economic privileges that promoted gifts to

5500-586: The Muslim polities of North Africa, Southern France, Sicily and Moorish portions of Spain. According to James W. Brodman, the threat of capture, whether by pirates or coastal raiders, or during one of the region's intermittent wars, was a continuous threat to residents of Catalonia , Languedoc and the other coastal provinces of medieval Christian Europe. Raids by militias, bands and armies from both sides were an almost annual occurrence. For over 600 years, these constant armed confrontations produced numerous war prisoners on both sides. Islam's captives were reduced to

5625-703: The Normal School of Preceptors, the School of Arts and Crafts, and the Quinta Normal . The latter comprised the Museum of Fine Arts (now the Museum of Science and Technology) and the National Museum of Natural History . These institutions were established primarily for educational purposes, but also served as examples of public planning during that period. In 1851, the first telegraph system connecting

5750-413: The Order of Mercy is a Solemn Vow. In accordance with the general principle of a vow , it is an act of the will and an authentic promise, in which the reason for the vow is perfection. It also presupposes a sincere will of obligation in conscience and by virtue of the community. The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, founded in 1218, is an international community of priests and brothers, who live

5875-472: The Order, and, at least temporarily, the important shrine of St. Vincent in the City of Valencia. Claims by King James II and Peter IV of a royal foundation of the Order reflected not real history but their own designs upon the Order's financial resources and personnel. In 1265 a second order of Mercedarians for women was founded in Spain by St. Mary de Cervellione . In the preface of the first Constitutions of

6000-704: The Redemption of the Captives ( Latin : Ordo Beatae Mariae de Mercede Redemptionis Captivorum , abbreviated O. de M. ), also known as the Mercedarians , is a Catholic mendicant order established in 1218 by Peter Nolasco in the city of Barcelona , at that time the capital of the Principality of Catalonia , part of the Crown of Aragon , for the redemption of Christian captives. Its members are most commonly known as Mercedarian friars or nuns . One of

6125-479: The Santiago basin around the 10th millennium BC. These groups were primarily nomadic hunter-gatherers, traveling from the coast to the interior to hunt guanacos during the Andean snowmelt. By around 800 AD, the first permanent settlers established agricultural communities along the Mapocho River , where they cultivated crops such as maize , potatoes , and beans , and domesticated camelids. The villages of

6250-598: The Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia , Santiago has served as the capital city of Chile since colonial times. The city features a downtown core characterized by 19th-century neoclassical architecture and winding side streets with a mix of art deco, neo-gothic, and other styles. Santiago's cityscape is defined by several stand-alone hills and the fast-flowing Mapocho River , which is lined by parks such as Parque Bicentenario , Parque Forestal , and Parque de la Familia . The Andes Mountains are visible from most parts of

6375-577: The area served as a base for failed Inca expeditions to the south and was a junction along the Inca Trail . Pedro de Valdivia , a conquistador from Extremadura sent by Francisco Pizarro from Peru , arrived in the Mapocho valley on 13 December 1540, after a long journey from Cusco . Valdivia and his party camped by the river on the slopes of the Tupahue hill and gradually began interacting with

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6500-466: The aristocracy lost much of its power, and the middle class, composed of merchants, bureaucrats, and professionals, acquired the role of setting national policy. In this context, Santiago began to develop a substantial middle- and lower-class population, while the upper classes sought refuge in the districts of the capital. Thus, the old moneyed class, who previously frequented Cousiño and Alameda Park, lost their hegemony over popular entertainment venues, and

6625-602: The attackers. In response to this brutal act, the indigenous forces dispersed in fear. The city was gradually rebuilt, with the newly established city of Concepción gaining political prominence as the Royal Audiencia of Chile was established there in 1565. However, the ongoing threat of the Arauco War and frequent earthquakes delayed the establishment of the Royal Court in Santiago until 1607, which solidified

6750-452: The beginning of Chile’s path to independence . The city, which became the capital of the newly formed nation, faced various challenges, particularly from military actions in the vicinity. Although institutions like the Instituto Nacional and the National Library were established during the Patria Vieja , they were shut down after the patriots’ defeat at the Battle of Rancagua in 1814. The royal government continued until 1817, when

6875-427: The capital to the Port of Valparaíso was inaugurated. During the "Liberal Republic" and the administration of Mayor Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna , a new phase in the urban development of the capital was initiated. One of the main projects during this period was the remodeling of Cerro Santa Lucía , which had fallen into disrepair despite its central location. In his effort to transform Santiago, Vicuña Mackenna initiated

7000-418: The cathedral's façade, the Palacio de La Moneda , the San Carlos Canal , and the completion of the embankments during the government of Ambrosio O'Higgins . These works were officially opened in 1798. The O'Higgins government also opened the road to Valparaíso in 1791, connecting the capital with the country's main port. On September 18, 1810, the First Government Junta was proclaimed in Santiago, marking

7125-417: The center, lies at 570 m (1,870 ft). Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo , at the eastern edge of the city, has an elevation of 960 m (3,150 ft). The Santiago Basin is part of the Intermediate Depression and is remarkably flat, interrupted only by a few "island hills;" among them are Cerro Renca , Cerro Blanco , and Cerro Santa Lucía . The basin is approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) in

7250-403: The central nave with light. At the feet, there is an image of Saint Francis Xavier recumbent. On its sides there are two doors that go out towards Bandera street, forming a simple rear façade. On the other hand, in the choir that is located above the main door, there is the great pipe organ made in the Flight & Son house in London. Since the 1980s, its sound capacity is totally null. Under

7375-415: The central nave, the old main altar stands out at its bottom, crowned by a marble ciborium that preserves the crucifix inside, crowned by an eagle and guarded by angels, which was built in Munich in 1912, where masses were celebrated until that, between the 1960s and 1970s, in the archbishopric of Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez , a mobile wooden altar was made to celebrate Mass facing the town, but since it

7500-477: The central streets of Santiago, further diminishing the role of Valparaíso. The enactment of the Autonomous Municipalities Act empowered municipalities to establish various administrative divisions within the Santiago department, with the goal of enhancing local governance. In 1891, the municipalities of Maipú , Ñuñoa , Renca , Lampa , and Colina were created, followed by Providencia and Barrancas in 1897, and Las Condes in 1901. The La Victoria departmento

7625-474: The city and contribute to a smog problem, particularly during winter due to the lack of rain. The outskirts of the city are surrounded by vineyards, and Santiago is within an hour's drive of both the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Santiago is the political and financial center of Chile and hosts the regional headquarters of many multinational corporations and organizations . The Chilean government's executive and judiciary branches are based in Santiago, while

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7750-412: The city created a crisis in the city center. To reinvigorate the area, the government transformed the main shopping streets into pedestrian walkways, as it did in the 1970s, and offered tax benefits for the construction of residential buildings, which attracted young adults. The city faced a series of problems due to disorganized growth. During the winter months, air pollution reached critical levels and

7875-474: The city's status as the capital. During the early years of the city, the Spanish suffered from severe shortages of food and other supplies. The Picunches had adopted a strategy of halting cultivation and retreating to more remote locations, which isolated the Spanish and forced them to resort to eating whatever they could find. The shortage of clothing meant that some Spanish had to dress with hides from dogs, cats, sea lions , and foxes . Although Santiago

8000-439: The city, while 45,000 people used trams daily. As the new century began, Santiago underwent various changes due to the rapid growth of industry. Valparaíso, which had previously been the economic center of the country, gradually lost its prominence to the capital. By 1895, 75% of the national manufacturing industry was located in Santiago, while only 28% was in Valparaíso. By 1910, major banks and shops had established themselves in

8125-507: The coast. The mountain range immediately bordering the city on the east is known as the Sierra de Ramón , which was formed due to tectonic activity of the San Ramón Fault . This range reaches 3296 meters at Cerro de Ramón . The Sierra de Ramón represents the " Precordillera " of the Andes. 20 km (12 mi) further east is the even larger Cordillera of the Andes , which has mountains and volcanoes that exceed 6,000 m (19,690 ft) and on which some glaciers are present. The tallest

8250-421: The construction of new avenues, such as the Américo Vespucio Avenue and Panamericana Route 5 , as well as the expansion of 'industrial belts'. The 1962 World Cup provided a new impetus for city improvement efforts, and in 1966, the Santiago Metropolitan Park was established on Cerro San Cristóbal. The Ministry of Housing and Urbanism ( MINVU ) also began to eradicate shantytowns and build new homes. Finally,

8375-471: The construction of the Camino de Cintura , a road surrounding the entire city. The redevelopment of Alameda Avenue also took place during this time, turning it into the city's main road. Also during this era, O'Higgins Park was established with the help of European landscapers in 1873. The public park, known for its large gardens, lakes, and carriage trails, became a landmark in Santiago. Other notable structures were also opened during this period, including

8500-497: The construction of the Ciudad Parque Bicentenario, which marked the bicentenary of the Republic. The trend of constructing tall buildings continued in the eastern sector, which was highlighted by the opening of the Titanium La Portada and Gran Torre Santiago skyscrapers in the Costanera Center complex. On 27 February 2010, a powerful earthquake hit the capital city of Santiago, causing damage to some older buildings and rendering some modern structures uninhabitable. This sparked

8625-414: The cult). That door was partially or totally blinded until its destruction in 1769. On May 13, 1647, an earthquake affected the central area of the Captaincy General of Chile , destroying almost the entire city of Santiago along with the cathedral. However, the central nave of the cathedral withstood the attack, although its sagrario collapsed and its belongings could only be rescued days later. Thanks to

8750-404: The current one being the fifth built on the site. When refounding the city of Santiago de Chile on an Inca tambo , Pedro de Valdivia assigned the Inca temple to the northeast side of the Plaza Mayor or Plaza de Armas for the construction of a church, and while it was being built, religious services such as the Eucharist , they were celebrated at the door of the governor's house, located where

8875-448: The current ones, it was richly decorated and was arranged in a north-south direction, with its façade on Calle Catedral. However, later, its main access would be facing the square, in the so-called "Puerta del Perdón"; especially after a controversy that occurred around the year 1600, where it was argued that the north door should be closed due to the indecency of the houses that were in front of it (because they were neighbors and not part of

9000-483: The distinguishing marks of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy is that, since its foundation, its members are required to take a fourth vow : to die, if necessary, for another who is in danger of losing their faith. The Order exists today in 17 countries. Between the eighth and the fifteenth centuries, medieval Europe was in a state of intermittent warfare between the Christian kingdoms of southern Europe and

9125-472: The eastern sector. This development extended to the Barrio Alto , which became an attractive location for the construction of high-rise buildings. Major companies and financial corporations established themselves in the area, giving rise to a thriving modern business center commonly known as Sanhattan . The departure of these companies to Barrio Alto and the construction of shopping centers all around

9250-516: The end of 1978. Building telecommunications infrastructure was also an important development of this period, as reflected in the construction of the Torre Entel , which, since its construction in 1975, has become one of the symbols of the capital and remained the tallest structure in the country for two decades. After the military coup of 1973 and the establishment of the military regime , significant changes in urban planning did not occur until

9375-414: The end of the 19th century, Archbishop Mariano Casanova ordered a series of modifications that transformed the Cathedral into the building it currently exists. Casanova had decided to completely finish the construction of the cathedral, so he hired Ignacio Cremonesi and work began in 1898. Cremonesi's design is inspired by a Tuscan or Roman style. In the transformations, the stone was covered with stucco and

9500-602: The episodes of aristocratic and even royal ransom and its conditions, were the subject of chronicle and romance . The Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives was founded in France in 1198 by Felix of Valois and John of Matha to ransom Christians held captive. Sources for the origins of the Mercedarians are scant and almost nothing is known of the founder, Peter Nolasco. Biographers agree that, at some point in his youth, Nolasco became concerned with

9625-592: The foothills of Las Condes and the La Reina sector. The regulation of growth in Santiago only began in the 1960s with the creation of various development plans for Greater Santiago, a concept that reflected the city's new reality as a much larger urban center. In 1958, the Intercommunal Plan of Santiago was released, which proposed a limit of 38,600 urban and semi-urban hectares for a maximum population of 3,260,000 residents. The plan also included plans for

9750-427: The front in the square, with a length of 100 meters, changing the direction that had originally been arranged by Valdivia in the 16th century. In order not to be forced to destroy the old temple, and to be able to continue celebrating religious services, González ordered work to begin in the new section. On July 1, 1748, the first stone of the new building was laid. González contributed 55,512 pesos with 4 1/2 reales for

9875-421: The frontier that the Crown of Aragon shared with al-Andalus (Muslim Spain). The Order of Mercy, an early 13th century popular movement of personal piety organized at first by Nolasco, was concerned with ransoming the ordinary men who had not the means to negotiate their own ransom, the "poor of Christ". From the year 1192 certain noblemen of Barcelona had formed a confraternity for the purpose of caring for

10000-417: The initiative of Bishop Gaspar de Villarroel , it was quickly retouched, although not for long. By 1657, a new telluric movement almost completely ruined its structure, and a second reconstruction had to be carried out between 1662 and 1687. The 1730 Valparaíso earthquake once again cracked the cathedral structure, thus determining that the repairs carried out four decades earlier had been useless. To this

10125-584: The latter derived from the Galician evolution of Vulgar Latin Sanctu Iacobu . Allegedly, there was no indigenous name for the area where Santiago is located, but the Mapuche language uses the adapted name Santiaw . Residents of the city and region are referred to as santiaguinos (for males) and santiaguinas (for females). Archaeological evidence suggests that the first human groups arrived in

10250-590: The main altarpiece, headed by a wooden image of the Assumption of Our Lady , patron saint of the cathedral, surrounded by angels and bronze rays, guarded by images of the Apostle Saint James the Great (patron of the city and of the archdiocese) and of Saint Rose of Lima , also in wood. Under this altarpiece, there is a window that illuminates the ciborium or manifestor where the crucifix is, and fills

10375-488: The metropolitan area has evolved over time as the city has expanded, incorporating smaller cities and rural areas. The name Santiago was chosen by the Spanish conqueror Pedro de Valdivia when he founded the city in 1541 as "Santiago del Nuevo Extremo," in reference to his home region of Extremadura and as a tribute to James the Great , the patron saint of Spain . The saint's name appears in various forms in Spanish, such as Diego , Jaime , Jacobo , or Santiago , with

10500-574: The most significant architectural projects of the colonial period, the Calicanto Bridge, connecting the city to La Chimba on the north side of the Mapocho River. He also began constructing embankments to prevent river overflows. Although the bridge was completed, its piers were frequently damaged by the river. In 1780, Governor Agustín de Jáuregui hired the Italian architect Joaquín Toesca , who designed several important buildings, including

10625-546: The network returned to full normal service. The city lies in the center of the Santiago Basin , a large bowl-shaped valley consisting of broad and fertile lands surrounded by mountains. The city has a varying elevation, gradually increasing from 400 m (1,312 ft) in the western areas to more than 700 m (2,297 ft) in the eastern areas. Santiago's international airport , in the west, lies at an altitude of 460 m (1,509 ft). Plaza Baquedano , near

10750-515: The new religious order for the Redemption of Captives was officially constituted at the main altar erected over Eulalia of Barcelona 's tomb in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross (also known as the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia ) in Barcelona . Bishop Berenguer de Palou gave Nolasco and his companions the white religious habit that they would wear as characteristic of the Order; he put them under

10875-562: The new Institute. Peter Nolasco is the real founder of the Order or the "Procurator of the alms of captives" as defined on March 28, 1219, by the first document referring to him. Finally, it is clearly specified that the purpose of the Order is "to visit and to free Christians who are in captivity and in power of the Saracens or of other enemies of our Law… By this work of mercy… all the brothers of this Order, as sons of true obedience, must always be gladly disposed to give up their lives, if it

11000-464: The new altar is the old high altar, already mentioned. At the end of the complex, next to the old altar on the right side, is the choir organ , a pipe organ built by the German Jesuits of Calera de Tango in 1754, and is still in use. In the central nave, the carved wooden pulpits from the 19th century also stand out. On the wall of the apse itself, there is in the upper part what we could call

11125-525: The next six years, the confraternity slowly evolves into a religious order, as members obtain properties in Catalonia. While Nolasco, by all accounts, first established his movement at Barcelona and then on Mallorca , its first acquisitions of note were in the Kingdom of Valencia . Here special circumstances associated with the frontier —an abundance of new land awaiting Christian settlement and an arena for

11250-535: The night of December 22, 1769, a fire broke out that destroyed the entire old cathedral, probably because the oil from the lamp that illuminated the Blessed Sacrament had spilled on some combustible object. To the clamor of the bells of the other churches, the people flocked to the scene of the incident, but it was already too late: only an image of the Virgin of Sorrows had been saved from the incident, which

11375-595: The old main altar, the civil crypts of Diego Portales and José Tomás Ovalle are located. In the right nave, the tombs of great personalities of the country's history stand out, of the first bishops and characters of the Criollo aristocracy. Next to the right door of the Plaza de Armas is the monument and marble amphora where the hearts of the Chilean officers killed in the Battle of La Concepción in 1882 are preserved. It

11500-431: The parish to ask Mary to intercede for their spiritual, mental, and physical health, for their families and studies, and for the increase of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. In Mercedes, Catbalogan , Roman Catholics have been devoted to Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes as their principal patroness, often invoked for protection against Moro raiders. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates text from

11625-479: The plight of Christians captured in Moorish raids and that he decided to establish a religious order to succor these unfortunates. Nolasco began ransoming Christian captives in 1203. After fifteen years of work, he and his friends saw that the number of captives was growing day by day. His plan was to establish a well-structured and stable redemptive religious order under the patronage of Blessed Mary. The Order of

11750-412: The population of Santiago to be 507,296 inhabitants, equivalent to 13.6% of the total population of Chile. This represented a growth of 52.5% from the 1907 census, an annual increase of 3.3%, which was almost three times the national average. This growth was mainly due to an influx of farmers from the southern regions who came to work in the factories and railroads that were being built. However, this growth

11875-432: The practice of charitable ransoming— created an ideal environment for the new Order. Consequently, the preponderance of what Mercedarians came to possess here were lands donated by the king, successful crusaders and other patrons. In 1236, Pope Gregory IX granted the Mercedarians formal recognition as a religious order under the old Rule of St. Augustine . The small order gained additional members, property and support in

12000-501: The presbytery. An ambon or wooden lectern in the shape of an eagle precedes the altar, going up the stairs of the presbytery. To its left, on the pilaster, there is a large crucifix, a donation from Pope Pius XI . Next, are the carved wooden seats, where the priests that make up the Metropolitan Council are located. In the middle of the left arm of the presbytery, under a wooden canopy, is the chair (wooden throne where

12125-544: The seat of Santiago to Archiepiscopal rank. The order or decree of erection was later lost, so Pope Pius IX allowed a new one to be made, leaving September 29, 1873 as the definitive date. In total, the work had taken nearly 80 years to be completed. and its cost amounted to 600,000 pesos. In 1846 the construction of the Sagrario Chapel began, which was finished by Eusebio Chelli . A year later, Archbishop Rafael Valentín Valdivieso commissioned Alexander Caldcleugh,

12250-640: The sick in hospitals, and also for rescuing Christian captives from the Moors. Tradition has it that around 1218, Nolasco and King James I of Aragon each experienced separately a vision of the Virgin Mary, who asked them to found a religious order dedicated to rescuing the many Christian captives held by the Muslims. Nolasco's confessor, Raymond of Penyafort , a Dominican friar and former canon of Barcelona, encouraged and assisted him in this project; and King James also extended his protection. On August 10, 1218,

12375-414: The slab of the presbytery is the archiepiscopal crypt, where the archbishops of Santiago are commonly buried. Formerly the crypt was a dark and battered place but, at the initiative of Cardinal Carlos Oviedo Cavada , a project was drawn up to build a new one under the main altar, more worthy of preserving the remains of the prelates. Remodeled in 2005, it currently has a modern and sober appearance, headed by

12500-467: The sound capacity of the organ. On May 5, 1906, Casanova was finally able to consecrate the modified temple. Inside, the church was made up of three naves: two laterals and a taller central one. Cremonesi also added two towers to the façade. The main temple is made up of a plant with three naves. Its width is 45 meters and its length, from the façade to the doors facing Bandera street, is about 100 meters. This gives an area of about 4500 square meters. In

12625-525: The state of slaves since they were considered war booty. In the lands of Visigothic Spain , both Christian and Muslim societies had become accustomed to the buying and selling of captives, so much so that tenth-century Andalusian merchants formed caravans to purchase slaves in Eastern Europe. In the thirteenth century, in addition to spices, slaves constituted one of the goods of the flourishing trade between Christian and Muslim ports. Starting before

12750-426: The streets. The harsh living conditions resulted in widespread diseases like tuberculosis, and took a toll on the homeless population. At the same time, unemployment rates and living costs skyrocketed, while the salaries of the people in Santiago fell. The situation would change several years later with a new industrial boom fostered by CORFO and the expansion of the state apparatus from the late 1930s. At this time,

12875-488: The time. Modernity also spread in the city, with the introduction of the first theaters, the expansion of the telephone network, and the opening of Los Cerrillos Airport in 1928, among other advancements. The perception that the early 20th century was a time of economic prosperity due to technological advancements was in stark contrast to the living conditions of lower social classes. The previous decades of growth resulted in an unprecedented population boom starting in 1929, but

13000-489: The title: Solemnitas Descensionis B. Mariæ V. de Mercede. Our Lady of Ransom is the principal patron of Barcelona; the proper Office was extended to Barcelona (1868) and to all Spain (second class, 1883). Sicily took up the old date of the feast (Sunday nearest to August 1) by permission of the Roman Congregation of Rites of August 31, 1805. In England , Our Lady of Ransom is also venerated as “Our Lady of

13125-431: The total length of the metropolitan railway to 105 km (65 mi). In the early 1990s, the bus system also underwent a major reform. In 2007, the master plan known as Transantiago was established, although it has faced various challenges since its implementation. Entering the 21st century, rapid development continued in Santiago. The Civic District was revitalized with the creation of the Plaza de la Ciudadanía and

13250-417: The urban area covered 6,500 hectares, which increased to 20,900 in 1960 and to 38,296 in 1980. Although growth was mainly concentrated in communities such as Barrancas to the west, Conchalí to the north, and La Cisterna and La Granja to the south, the center of the city lost population, leaving more space for commercial, banking, and government development. The upper class, on the other hand, began to settle in

13375-413: The wooden coffered ceiling was replaced by a sky painted with scenes in squares. The choir was first planned to be on the second level of pillars and beyond the arch. However, this meant that it was on the last ten rows of seats, so the idea was scrapped. The second option, and it was definitely left, was to leave it under the arch, which enormously increased the size of the choir but significantly restricted

13500-463: The work on the cathedral. In December 1775, a part of the new temple was enabled, and the religious service was transferred there. In 1775, Bishop Manuel de Alday presided over its consecration. Only five years later, the prelate entrusted the Italian architect Joaquín Toesca with the execution of the facades of the cathedral and the Church del Sagrario. Toesca redid the plans, beginning by directing

13625-408: The work, and his successor Manuel de Alday with more than 160,000 pesos. The Crown, by 1788, had donated 97,994 pesos with 3 1/2 reales. For that year, 390,235 pesos with 5 and 1/8 reales had been spent on the cathedral, which had already been nearly two-thirds completed. After that they spent 48,964 pesos with 2 1/3 reales for the work, totaling 456,772 pesos with 8 and 3 reales in the cathedral. On

13750-493: The works in the damaged sector, next to the square, and modifying part of the area already built, with which the temple was architecturally enriched. Imposing the Neoclassical style , and remaining in the works for nearly 20 years, Toesca became the most important architect of the cathedral works. Around 1830 the building was almost finished, and in 1840, Pope Gregory XVI turned it into a Metropolitan Cathedral , elevating

13875-573: The works. The latter had a short time in the works, since in 1779 the Italian architect Joaquín Toesca made his appearance, to direct the construction. Bishop González acquired the properties next to the cathedral, at the corner of the current Catedral and Bandera streets, which belonged to the Pineda Bascuñán family; and decided to place the feet (the Altar) of the new building in Bandera and

14000-527: Was accepted as Supreme Director and, like his father, undertook several important projects for the city. During the Patria Nueva era, previously closed institutions were reopened. The General Cemetery was inaugurated, work on the San Carlos Canal was completed, and the drying riverbed in the south arm of the Mapocho River, known as La Cañada, which had been used as a landfill for some time,

14125-583: Was added the numerous accidents that had affected the structure. That is why, in 1746, Bishop Juan González Melgarejo considered that the temple should be renovated in its entirety. The plans for this new cathedral were the work of Pedro Vogl and Juan Hagen, two members of the Society of Jesus , of Bavarian origin, who sent their project to Spain for royal approval in 1753. However, the work had already begun in 1748. After Vogl and Hagen, Matías Vásquez de Acuña and Francisco Antonio de Barros continued as directors of

14250-645: Was also built in the north of the city: the Mapocho Station . The Parque Forestal was established on the southern side of the Mapocho river, and new buildings such as the Museum of Fine Arts , the Barros Arana public boarding school , and the National Library were opened. In addition, a sewer system was installed, serving approximately 85% of the city's population. The 1920 census estimated

14375-402: Was also divided, leading to the creation of Lo Cañas in 1891, which was then further split into La Granja and Puente Alto in 1892, followed by La Florida in 1899, and La Cisterna in 1925. The San Cristobal Hill underwent a prolonged process of development during this period. In 1903, an astronomical observatory was established on the hill, and the following year, construction began on

14500-453: Was concentrated in the suburbs and not in the city center. During this time, the downtown district consolidated as a commercial, financial, and administrative center, with the establishment of various shops and businesses around Ahumada Street and a Civic District in the vicinity of the Palace of La Moneda. The latter project involved the construction of modernist buildings for the offices of

14625-474: Was divided into eight blocks from north to south and ten blocks from east to west, between the Mapocho River and the Cañada with each quarter-block, or solar , granted to settlers. The colonial architecture following the grid plan consisted of one or two-story houses, adobe walls, tile roofs, and rooms around interior corridors and patios . Valdivia left for the south with his troops months later, initiating

14750-532: Was due to suburban expansion to the south and west of the capital, as well as the growth of the bustling district of La Chimba, which resulted from the division of old properties in the area. This new peripheral development marked the end of the previous checkerboard structure that had dominated the city center. During the Republican era, several institutions were founded, including the University of Chile ,

14875-399: Was facing the threat of permanent destruction early on, due to attacks from indigenous peoples, earthquakes, and floods, the city began to grow rapidly. Out of the 126 blocks designed by Pedro de Gamboa in 1558, 40 were occupied. In 1580, the first major buildings in the city started to be erected, marked by the placement of the foundation stone of the first Cathedral in 1561 and the building of

15000-428: Was largely driven by the construction of housing projects for middle-class families. Meanwhile, high-income families relocated to the foothills, now commonly referred to as Barrio Alto , boosting the population of Las Condes and giving rise to young communes, including Lo Barnechea and Vitacura , both established in 1981 and 1991, respectively. The area around Providencia Avenue became an important commercial hub in

15125-570: Was located at the Puerta del Perdón. Apart from For this, according to Vásquez de Acuña, some molten silver and gold was saved thanks to the fire. The religious service was provisionally transferred to the Church of la Compañía , which was in charge of Mercedarian religious as a result of the recent expulsion of the Jesuits from America. However, this very circumstance was the event that accelerated

15250-495: Was met with tragedy as the Great Depression hit. The collapse of the nitrate industry in the north left 60,000 people unemployed, compounded by a decline in agricultural exports, resulting in an estimated 300,000 unemployed people nationwide. Desperate for survival, many migrants flocked to Santiago and its thriving industry. However, they often found themselves struggling to find housing, with many being forced to live on

15375-502: Was not very decent for the surroundings, a front was placed in front of it silver 3 meters long. This altar was remodeled and modified between 2005 and 2006, in a work that involved the complete renovation of the presbytery and the total renovation of the archiepiscopal crypt. The mobile altar was replaced by a fixed one, the front of the mobile altar was destined for the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, and structural improvements were made to

15500-534: Was revived and further developed by Friar John Baptist of the Blessed Sacrament ( Spanish : Juan Bautista del Santísimo Sacramento ). A small community of friars were allowed to open their own monastery under the leadership of Friar John Baptist in 1603. Adopting a simpler form of life and of their religious habit and wearing only sandals , they became known as the Mercedarian Recollects , later as Discalced Mercedarians . They were approved as

15625-463: Was transformed into an avenue now known as the Alameda de las Delicias . Two earthquakes struck the city in the 19th century: one on November 19, 1822, and another on February 20, 1835. Despite these disasters, the city continued to grow rapidly. In 1820, the population was recorded as 46,000, but by 1854, it had risen to 69,018. By 1865, the census reported 115,337 residents. This significant increase

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