Santiago

Shadowed by the extent of the Andes that unfolds in the backdrop, the city of Santiago is both a gateway to Chilean deserts and steppes, as well as the booming capital metropolis. While many of its neighborhoods depict a mesmerizing jumble of tall skyscrapers and buildings, several others feature elements of its 16th Century history. Examples of these can be seen in well-preserved structures of early architecture that spill shadows onto centuries-old plazas. Filling in the spaces of this cosmopolitan town is a plethora of modern malls that dot the Centro, hip nightclubs and trendy restaurants that represent the city's urbanity and an arsenal of remarkable museums and leafy avenues that will make you stop and soak in its brilliance. Its colorful barrios, from the bohemian hubs of Bella Vista and Barrio Italia to the affluent corners of Patronato and Las Condes, exhibit the versatile vein of this larger-than-life city.