La Chascona – Pablo Neruda's House

The house of Pablo Neruda

The Santiago audio-guided tour takes you to La Chascona, the house that the poet Pablo Neruda owned in Santiago, today transformed into a museum dedicated to his life and his work.

La Chascona and the poet

Chascona means "woman with dishevelled hair", a nod to the hairstyle of Neruda's third wife, whom he met in the neighbouring forest park. With its vibrant blue, which recalls the poet's love for the sea, the house sums up the bohemian atmosphere of Bellavista. Born Ricardo Eliecer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto, Neruda chose his pen name in tribute to the Czech poet Jan Neruda. Deeply engaged, a diplomat then exiled for his convictions, he received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971. Affected by the coup d'état of 1973, he died two weeks later; his funeral turned into a demonstration against the new regime.

What there is to see

La Chascona can be visited as an intimate museum: one discovers there the objects, the collections and the universe of the poet, in a house with an original architecture hugging the slope of the hill. The visit sheds light on the eventful life and the acclaimed work of Neruda. It is a moving stop for those who want to approach one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century.

Practical information

La Chascona is in the Bellavista district, in Santiago, at the foot of the Cerro San Cristobal. Become a museum, it can generally be visited all year round according to hours that may vary depending on the season. It is advisable to check the conditions of access and the prices before the visit.

Why is the house called La Chascona?

Chascona means "woman with dishevelled hair", in reference to the hairstyle of Pablo Neruda's third wife.

Who was Pablo Neruda?

A great Chilean poet and diplomat, Nobel Prize for literature in 1971, deeply engaged, whose Santiago house was La Chascona.