Barrio Yungay: Santiago’s Intellectual Hub, Santiago, Chile

Often overlooked by travellers who are visiting Santiago de Chile, Barrio Yungay was largely a rural area until it underwent an urban transformation in 1835. The barrio was officially proclaimed in 1839 as a method of commemorating the victory of the Chileans during the Battle of Yungay.

Today, it is home to plenty of lovely museums worthy of a full day exploration to fully unpack the history of Chile from various perspectives. In between your museum visits, there are also several Instagrammable streets worthy of a camera moment or two.

This guide will walk you through the key sites which can be visited while you are exploring this destination. Without further ado…

The Museum of Memory & Human Rights (Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos) is a profound and essential landmark in Santiago, dedicated to honoring the victims and survivors of the human rights violations committed during the military dictatorship between 1973 and 1990.

The museum was inaugurated in 2010 by President Michelle Bachelet-herself a victim of the regime-as part of the celebrations for Chile’s bicentennial, aiming to give visibility to a painful past. The museum features striking architecture which appears as a translucent green crystalline block suspended between two concrete pillars, symbolizing the “suspended” state of memory that must be constantly supported by society to remain clear and visible. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).