Santa Lucía Hill

Santiago, Chile

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Santa Lucía Hill, a 69-meter rocky outcrop in central Santiago, Chile, originally called Huelén by the Mapuche, was renamed by Pedro de Valdivia on Saint Lucy's Day in 1540 and served as the founding site of Santiago in 1541, later functioning as a lookout, hermitage spot, and military fort during colonial times.

Transformed in 1872 by Mayor Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna into a romantic public park, it boasts neoclassical features like curved staircases, the Neptune Fountain, Hidalgo Castle, a Gothic chapel, statues of Valdivia and others, and lush gardens leading to panoramic city views from its summit.

Declared a National Monument in 1983 and accessible via Santa Lucía Metro, the urban oasis hosts a daily noon cannon salute, peaceful walks, and events, blending history from indigenous sacred ground to 19th-century urban renewal.