Landmark
Plaza de Armas (Santiago)
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Plaza de Armas is the main square of Santiago, Chile. It sits above an old Inca settlement and was the center of the city's original grid layout. Around the square you'll find historic buildings like the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and the National History Museum. The square is lively, with vendors, artists, and performers.
Don't miss
- Freedom of Latin America monument at the center, made of Carrara marble, showing a woman breaking chains off a native woman
- Metropolitan Cathedral, the fifth church on the site, with a neoclassical façade and two towers facing the square
- Central Post Office building, originally Pedro de Valdivia's residence, later the presidential home, rebuilt after a fire in neoclassical style
- National History Museum in the former Palacio de la Real Audiencia, the main colonial court
- Municipality building on the site of the colonial cabildo and jail, rebuilt after an 1891 fire
- Portal Fernández Concha, a 1869 shopping arcade with Chilean and international food shops
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Plaza de Armas (Santiago)
You can see Plaza de Armas (Santiago) on your own. A tour is worth it for the story behind it, for transport, or for combining nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inA Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -4.9★ · 581 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$25 per personSee dates →
Most bookedCable Car, Funicular and Sightseeing Bus in Santiago one day4.9★ · 2,731 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$67 per personSee dates →
Private & flexiblePrivate Santiago 3-Hour Walking Tour4.9★ · 258 travelers~3 hoursFrom$85 per personSee dates →Getting there
Know before you go
- Plaza de Armas metro station is located directly under the square.
- Turistik Santiago hop-on hop-off bus passes through Plaza de Armas.
- Bikesantiago bike-sharing program has stations nearby; requires registration.
A bit of history
The square was built over an Inca urban center. Spanish conqueror Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541, and architect Pedro de Gamboa designed the city with a checkerboard pattern, placing the plaza at the center. During the colonial period, goods arrived at markets around the plaza, and a gallows stood in the middle to display royal power.
Common questions
What is the monument in the center of the square?
It's the Freedom of Latin America monument, made of Carrara marble, depicting a woman breaking the chains of a native woman. It replaced a 1671 bronze fountain now at La Moneda Palace.
What historic buildings surround the square?
The Metropolitan Cathedral, Central Post Office, National History Museum (in the former Royal Court), and the municipal government building. Nearby are the Casa Colorada, Firefighters Headquarters, and Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino.
Is there an Inca site under the square?
Yes, evidence from 1976 suggests an Inca settlement with roads and infrastructure lies under the old city, and the Spanish used it as a base to found Santiago.
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