Plaza de la Constitución

The Plaza de la Constitución

The Santiago audio-guided tour leads you to the Plaza de la Constitución, in the heart of the civic district. Surrounded by government buildings, it is dominated by the great Palacio de la Moneda.

The government block of the capital

Besides the Palacio de la Moneda, the square is bordered by the ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Justice, the Central Bank and the former Intendancy. Since its origin, it has been a place of meeting, not always peaceful, between the Chilean people and their rulers. It today houses the statues of Diego Portales, a nineteenth-century politician of contrasting judgement, and of three former presidents, including Salvador Allende. In the morning, one can attend the changing of the guard there.

What there is to see

Vast and solemn, the Plaza de la Constitución offers a monumental perspective over the Palacio de la Moneda and the buildings of power. Its statues, including that of Salvador Allende, make it a place of memory of Chilean political history. It is an essential passage point to understand the institutional life of the country.

Practical information

The Plaza de la Constitución is in the civic district of Santiago, in front of the Palacio de la Moneda. It is a public space freely accessible at all hours and on the level. The changing of the guard generally takes place in the morning; the government buildings that surround it cannot be freely visited.

What buildings surround the Plaza de la Constitución?

The Palacio de la Moneda and several ministries, the Central Bank and the former Intendancy: it is the government block of the capital.

What statues are on the square?

Those of Diego Portales and three former presidents, including Salvador Allende, witnesses of the political history of Chile.