Providencia and Neighbourhoods, Santiago de Chile

Introduction

Metro Stops West to East:
Baquedano – Salvador – Manuel Montt – Pedro de Valdivia - Los Leones – Tobalaba

Covering an area of 14km2, containing a population of around 120,000 people, Providencia is a mid-level, middle-class, mainly residential district. It starts at the eastern line marking Santiago Centro (so, effectively where the Metro station called Baquedano is located) and runs east for a few kms to Tobalaba whereupon the district of Las Condes begins.

Providencia is, logistically, a good location for visitors. It is considered reasonably safe and handy to get into downtown, should you wish to venture that way, but also handy to go uptown. There are also a number of shops, a small shopping mall (called Panoramico Vivo), plus a small “artistic mall” (called the “Drug Store”), as well as restaurants, cafes and offices. Mainly, these commercial options are located either side of the main drag also called Providencia, especially between metro stops Manuel Montt, then running east to Tobalaba.

In addition, Providencia does offer some particular places worthy of a visit (detailed further below) and these are:
The Costanera Observation Tower
The San Cristobal Hill
Barrio Italia

Places of Interest close to, or within Providencia are:

The San Cristobal Hill

Metro Baquedano (northern exit) or Pedro de Valdivia (northern Exit)
This is the quite large hill that is visible from many points in Providencia and where there is a white-coloured statue of the Virgin Mary at the western end at the top. The highest point is at 880mt above sea level. The Virgin Mary statue, seen from almost every point in the city, was sculptured by Frenchman Jaconetti out of metal and given to Chile by France in 1908. The entire hill (cerro) comprises the Parque Metropolitana, covering 712 hectares which makes it one of the largest parks in the world in terms of surface area.

Getting to the top will enable the visitor to enjoy a panoramic view over Santiago and incredible unspoilt views of the Andes on one side, and the Precordillera Mountains on the other. There are restaurants and cafes at the top as well as two swimming pools and a zoo.

Access is either by car, funicular railway or cable car.

Driving up from the western side at the end of Pio Nono street, which is in the area called Bellavista, or, also from this same entry point is the more fun option of riding up in the funicular railway. This is quite a steep, but short ride up the side of the hill, stopping halfway for people to get off and go to the zoo and then ending at the top just under where the Virgin Mary statue is.

Funicular Operating Times:
Mon 13:00hrs to 20:30hrs; Tue to Sun 10:30hrs to 20:00hrs

The other entry point is at the northern end of the street called Pedro de Valdivia, which runs north off the Providencia Street, close to the metro station of the same name (Pedro de Valdivia). At the end of Pedro de Valdivia (north) is a cable car service that also runs up to just below the Virgin Mary statue.

Cable Car Operating Times:
Mon to Fri 14:30hrs to 20:00hrs; Sat, Sun and Public Holidays 10:30hrs to 20:00hrs

Cyclists and hikers as well as those who like the funicular railway, or teleferic cable car, enjoy the park to its full. There are many grassy areas, some on a slope, to sit upon and admire the view, however picnics are not allowed.

One suggestion is to go up on the funicular railway and down on the teleferic cable car.

Barrio Bellavista Neighbourhood

Metro Line 1: Baquedano (northern exit)
Sandwiched between Downtown and Providencia, on the northern side of the Mapocho River, across from the Parque Forestal, at the base of the San Cristobal hill is a small area called Bellavista (which means “beautiful view”). This term comes from the “beautiful” view over the city from top of the San Cristobal hill, where the large, white statue of the Virgin Mary is located. Access to this hill is from the end of the main Pio Nono Street in Bellavista. Information on the San Cristobal hill is in our Providencia page.

Night Life
Bellavista comes to life at night. It is known for its bohemian vibe with lots of bars, restaurants and nightclubs frequented by Santiago’s younger population.
Indeed, it can be a good place to come for evening entertainment, especial a place called “El Patio” which occupies and area between the two streets of Pio Nono and Constitucion.

Culture

Museo Neruda La Chascona (located in Bellavista)

Nearest Metro: Baquedano (northern exit)
Closed on Mondays.


Culturally, Bellavista is the location for one of the three houses previously owned by Chilean Nobel-Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda. He had this property built and then named it La Chascona after a red-haired lover he was associated with.

The entire house is now a museum where visitors can walk through the small rooms and view the various paintings, ornaments and sculptures as well as furniture that once belonged to Pablo Neruda. The visitor service also includes the option of an audio guide that explains what is in each room in your preferred language.

In addition to the interior exhibition there is a small art gallery and café with a terrace, book shop as well as reproductions for sale of some of the objects in the house.

The small property is in a short side street just off the street called Constitucion, which runs parallel to the Pio Nono street, but curves in at the end where the funicular is. It is just off this curve where the side street to the house can be found.

The Costanera Centre (Observation Deck)

Metro Tobalaba (northern exit)
This is a large multiplex of mall, cinema, supermarket and offices. Opened in 2015, it is the largest shopping mall in South America, occupying over 4 levels with an open atrium in the middle, on one side. It is full of all kinds of different shops as well as a large supermarket and equally large hardware store. Therefore, only come to the mall if you are a “shopper”.

However, what makes Costanera Centre a draw for visitors is the tower. At the northeast corner of the complex is the tallest, man-made building in South America. It is 300mt high and at the observation deck at the top there is a fine (on a clear day) 360 view over all of Santiago. As a visitor, a trip to the tower is well worth it in order to get an orientation of the city.

Barrio Italia Neighbourhood

Metro Salvador (southern exit)
Located about 11 blocks South from the Salvador Metro in Providencia (quite a hike if walking, therefore a taxi is suggested).

This is a much larger bubble than other places like Barrio Brasil in downtown. It is, effectively, within a residential neighbourhood, with tree-line streets containing some great restaurants, bars, shops, art galleries and cafes, as well as antique furniture shops all combining to create a “vibe” and atmosphere, especially for evening dining.

This district used to be known as the “hat makers” place, because this is where the hat makers were concentrated. And, today, in some areas the old warehouses that were occupied by production facilities have been reclaimed as bohemian bars and restaurants, emitting a kind of “loft” feel. The main action is located on the Avenida Italia near Avenida Condell and between the Francisco Bilbao and Sucre streets.

Among the boutique shops there is a modern gallery of shops located between Avenida Italia and Condell. And, on a corner called “Jazz Corner” there is a nearby jazz club.

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