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Palacio de La Moneda

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LenR
LenR
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Palacio de la Moneda

  • October 15, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by LenR from Townsville, Australia
Palacio de la Moneda

The Plaza de la Constitucion is an attractive city-block size area on the north side of the presidential palace, La Moneda. It is surrounded by statues of presidents and there are places to sit or paths to stroll. The main focus of the Plaza is the wonderful Palace which was designed by Joaquin Toesca, an Italian who arrived in Chile in 1780 and established the neoclassical style in Santiago.

The palace was built in 1784-1805 as the royal mint but was the presidential residence from 1848 until 1958 and was then turned into government offices. September 1973 saw dramatic events as the military staged a coup, bombing the palace which set it on fire and causing President Allende to commit suicide. Fortunately the palace was rebuilt in 1981 and is once more being used.

In fact, you can actually walk through the courtyards, from north to south, on weekdays. There are orange trees and some good sculptures inside. This was brought about by one of the first decrees of the present Head of State, President Ricardo Lagos Escobar. The measure has been warmly received by the local populace, who cross through the building, toss coins into the ornate fountain in the Orange Grove Patio, and occasionally, bump into the president himself as he goes about his business.

Everyone can watch the carabineros officers in full-dress uniform at the entrance from Constitution Plaza. There is a changing of the guard ceremony at 10am on alternate days (I don’t know how you tell which days!) in the plaza and it is possible, though difficult, to arrange a visit to the palace interior. Most visitors will not bother with this although I am told that some of the rooms are very spectacular.

The plaza on the southern side of the building (fronting Alameda) is not as large or interesting as the Plaza de la Cludadania but if you go here, walk west along Alameda for about a block and you will come to one of the remarkable Easter Island statues. It is well worth seeing.

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