The elegant, stately building in front of you is the Club de la Unión, founded in 1864 as an exclusive meeting place for Chile’s aristocracy. Since colonial times, the country’s elites had a tradition of gathering to debate, socialise, and exchange ideas. This club quickly became the top spot for political and social life after independence. Its goal was to create a space for dialogue and mutual respect among men of different political views. The building you see today dates back to 1912, when the Augustinian nuns who owned the land decided to divide and sell off their property. The Club was based nearby at the time, and bought one of the plots. They launched a competition among the city’s most prestigious architectural firms to design its new headquarters. The winner was a French architect named Henri Grossin, but he tragically died in a plane crash not long after. The second-place design is the one that was ultimately built. In 1981, the building was declared a historic monument and is now part of the Bolsa district, known for its beautiful early 20th-century architecture. Today, club members have access to a lavish library—home to the largest private book collection in Chile, which you can request to visit—as well as a swimming pool, gym, spa, elegant dining rooms, a hair salon, billiards, a poker lounge, and more. But fair warning—only members are allowed in!