Armoury Square Plaza de Armas

The history of Santiago as a city began with the triple Plaza de Armas. By order of Pedro de Valdivia, a Spanish powder warehouse was built here in 1541, and later the Spanish military were based here. That's why it's called the Armory Square.

Today, the square contains the main historically important Baroque buildings built during the colonial period.

On the square are the buildings of the House of the Governors of Chile, the municipality of Santiago, the General Post Office, the building of the Royal Audience, the colonnade of Fernandez Concha and the city cathedral. Other architectural landmarks include the Mint and the Church of San Francisco, built in 1618.

In the center of the square is a marble monument named "In Honor of the Freedom of America." It depicts episodes from the struggle of Latin American countries for their independence.