Chile

Santiago is the capital of Chile. It’s the country’s largest city and the seat of the executive and judicial branches, home to the presidential palace La Moneda and major national institutions. Founded in 1541 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia, Santiago sits in Chile’s central valley between the Andes and the Coastal Range, making it the political and economic heart of the country. A common point of confusion: Chile’s National Congress meets in Valparaíso, a major port, but the official capital is Santiago. Memory tip: S for Santiago = Seat of government. Also think “Santiago in the center,” matching Chile’s long, narrow shape with its capital anchored in the middle.