2017-07 - Santiago - Santa Lucia Hill 2

sketchfab

Santa Lucía Hill is one of Chile's most popular public parks among locals and international visitors because it stands out as an iconic landmark in the capital city and across the country. It silently bears witness to Santiago's urban growth since Spanish conquerors first arrived in the Mapocho Valley on December 13, 1540. Locals originally called this hill Huelén. It was at its foot where Pedro de Valdivia set up camp before establishing Santiago de la Nueva Extremadura. By 1872, Cerro Santa Lucía had undergone a transformation thanks to Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna's efforts as the Mayor of Santiago. He turned this wild area into an inviting walkway. Today, visitors can enjoy a diverse array of tree species, ornate landscaping imported from Europe, and remnants of Chile's colonial past. The hill is also home to popular spots like Hidalgo Castle, Neptuno, and Caupolicán terraces. 614 photos were taken with a Sony Alpha 7 camera before being processed using Agisoft Photoscan software.