The capital city of Chile is Santiago.
Santiago lies in Chile’s central valley, between the Andes Mountains to the east and the Chilean Coastal Range to the west. It was founded on 12 February 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia, who named it Santiago de Nueva Extremadura.
Santiago became the center of Chilean political and economic life. The city contains La Moneda Palace, the seat of the Chilean president, and Plaza de Armas, a historic central square. It is also Chile’s largest urban area and a major cultural, financial, and transportation hub.
A common mix-up is confusing Santiago with Valparaíso, Chile’s principal historic port city. Valparaíso is important nationally, but Santiago is the capital. Santiago’s metropolitan area extends across several municipalities and is surrounded by mountains, which can contribute to visible air pollution during stagnant weather conditions.