Palacio de La Moneda
Santiago Centro
Originally the royal mint, this sober neoclassical edifice designed by Joaquín Toesca in the 1780s and completed in 1805 became the presidential palace in 1846, serving that purpose for more than a century. It was bombarded by the military in the 1973 coup, when Salvador Allende defended his presidency against the assault of General Augusto Pinochet before he committed suicide there. Free tours can be arranged by email with at least two days' notice---tell them you want to see the Salón Blanco if you'd like to go upstairs.
