Walking Tour of Central Santiago

The Mercado Central, an imposing wrought iron building reminiscent of a London rail way station, was fabricated in England and brought piecemeal to Chile and assembled here for the National Exposition of 1872. Later, it became a market, and it's a busy place, with produce and seafood and eating places, either in small food stalls or the restaurants that bring Santiaguinos to their tables. This statue in the market reminds present day shoppers of its artistic origins.

From the Mercado, walk down Paseo Puente which becomes a pedestrian mall at the Mall of Santiago where you might want to browse the shops. Continue down Paseo Puente past the Plaza de Armas to Compañía-Merced, and turn right to the government buildings on the block between Bandera and Morandé.