Plaza de la Constitución

Welcome to Plaza de la Constitución, the heart of Santiago’s civic district, surrounded by numerous government buildings. In front of you stands the grand Palacio de La Moneda, flanked by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Central Bank of Chile, and what was once the Intendencia of Santiago. In Chile, the ‘Intendencia’ used to be the internal government of each of the country’s 16 regions. And if the word reminds you of royal officials, that’s no coincidence — the term actually comes from France. When Spain started wondering how on earth to manage its vast colonial empire, it turned to the French king for advice. His response, roughly paraphrased: ‘Well, we’ve got these intendants who represent me across the country, and honestly — it works pretty well.’” Spain borrowed the idea and sent intendants to govern its territories in the New World in the 18th century. Today, it’s the President of the Republic—not the King of Spain—who appoints regional leaders, and as of July 14, 2021, the position of intendant no longer exists. It was replaced by two new roles: the Regional Governor and the Presidential Delegate. This square remains a powerful symbol of Chile’s political life, where the people and their leaders have come face to face. After several renovations over the years, Plaza de la Constitución now features statues of key historical figures, including Diego Portales, a 19th-century statesman seen by some as the father of modern Chile and by others as a ruthless authoritarian. You’ll also find statues of three former presidents, including Salvador Allende. If you happen to be here around 10 a.m., you may even catch the ceremonial changing of the guard.