La Moneda Palace

A neoclassical palace built as the colonial mint, now the seat of Chile's president with a changing of the guard every other day.

It is famous as the centre of Chilean government and for a dramatic day in history: on 11 September 1973, during a military coup, the palace was attacked with tanks, artillery and bombing from the air, and President Salvador Allende died there. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1981 and is now a protected national monument.

From mint to presidential palace

In 1743 King Philip V gave a merchant permission to run a mint in Santiago, and the first gold coin was struck on 10 September 1749. Toesca drew up plans for a purpose-built mint, and after a first site flooded, he moved the project to the old Jesuit property where the palace stands today. Sources give 1784 or 1786 as the start of construction. Coins were made here until 1929, and President Manuel Bulnes made the building the seat of government in the 1840s.

Visiting

The palace houses the president's office and three government ministries. The changing of the guard happens in front of it every other day, and visitors can see the ceremony from the square. The Spanish name Palacio de La Moneda literally means 'Palace of the Mint'. It sits between Moneda Street, Morandé Street, the Alameda avenue and Teatinos Street.

On the globe

The toy model shows the long neoclassical palace with its plain facade, built as the colonial mint.