La Chascona (Fernando Márques de la Plata 0192, Bellavista, Santiago) – this house once belonged to Nobel Prize–winning poet Pablo Neruda – which was built for this third wife (Matilde Urrutia), and nicknamed it “La Chascona” (because of her unruly hair style). This home (one of three that Neruda owned) contains an array of collectibles […]
Gran Torre Santiago (Avenida Andrés Bello 2425, Providencia, Santiago) – this modern billion-dollar architectural wonder is the tallest skyscraper not only in Chile, but throughout Latin America (300 meters tall) and is part of the Costanera Center complex (which is to be completed in 2014-2015). Two hotels and additional office towers are being built here […]
Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts (Parque Forestral, near Av. Ismael Valdés Vergara) – designed by architect Jorge Enrique Dubois and opened in 1910, this museum has an extensive collection of Chilean art, as well as artwork from other Latin countries. Admission: 600 pesos (general), 300 pesos (students and seniors). Free entrance for all on […]
Chilean National History Museum (Plaza de Armas 951, Santiago) – locally known as MHN (Museo Histórico Nacional), this museum is located in the Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago. Paintings, archival materials and artifacts are used to highlight the country’s history from the pre-Columbian period to the 1970s. Admission: $600 pesos (adult), $300 (seniors). […]
Casa Colorada Museo de Santiago (Calle Merced 860, Santiago) – this colonial structure was built by prominent Portuguese resident Don Joseph de la Vega in 1769. This blood-red colored building shows a typical home owned by the Santiago elite over 200 years ago. Given the frequent earthquakes that Chile has endured over the centuries, few […]
Chile’s pre-Columbian history goes back to the Inca Empire, when the northern and central portions of present-day Chile were part of it. While Spanish conquistadores (led by Francisco Pizarro) conquered the Inca Empire in nearby Peru and established a colonial presence there by 1534 (in the Spanish crown’s quest for gold), Chile wasn’t settled by […]
Maracanã Stadium (Rio de Janeiro) – Maracanã is Brazil’s temple to the country’s national sport, Footbal (soccer). Opened in 1950, this arena hosted the World Cup games of that year and some matches of the World championship in 2014. It also hosted the Confederations Cup on 2013, the opening and closing ceremonies of the Pan […]
Ipanema Beach (Rio de Janeiro) – for those who hang out with Brazil’s most beautiful people, the upscale Ipanema Beach is the place to be. This trendy stretch of white sand, located near Leblon Beach, has good views of Morro Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Mountain). Also on display are some of the world’s smallest bikinis. […]
Hang Gliding (Pedra Bonita, Rio de Janeiro) – Hang gliding in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most popular wind sports practiced in Rio. It is a recreational sport that uses a craft often consisting of a metal-framed fabric wing, with the pilot mounted on a harness hanging from the wing frame. He exercises […]
Escadaria Selaron (Rua Joaquim Silva, Lapa, Rio de Janeiro) – these eye-catching steps found in Rio’s Lapa district were made made Chilean artist Jorge Selaron. He spent 20 years transforming this unassuming staircase into a unique icon of this city. All 215 of its steps are a mosaic of tiles, ceramics and mirrors in red, […]