Introduction to Plaza de Armas: Santiago’s Plaza de las Armas and its surrounding buildings have been declared a “characteristic neighborhood” by the Chilean government. On the west side of the north side of the square is the Central Post Office. In the middle, the former Royal Court is now a national cultural relic protection unit - the Chilean History Museum. On the east side is the Santiago City Hall. To the west from north to south are the Cathedral, the Museum of Sacred Art, and the Archbishop's Palace.
In 1541, Pedro de Valdivia founded the city of Santiago and immediately ordered the construction of the Plaza de Armas in the center of the city. The original square had a gallows symbolizing the royal power, and most of the surrounding buildings were churches. , royal courts, treasuries, town halls, prisons, and residences of the powerful.
The Plaza de Armas became the main trading place in Santiago for a long time after its completion. The long and narrow stalls formed during the colonial period were the origin of the alleys around the square today; in 1860, influenced by the European trends at the time, the square was It began to be gardened, and a walking path with green flowers and lush trees was opened in the center; from 1998 to 2000, the Plaza de Armas was renovated again, while increasing open space for activities, the corners were filled with Chilean palms and other The trees are lush and leafy.