Lastarria & Bellas Artes: Santiago’s Chic Barrios, Santiago, Chile

For lovers of urban exploration, the neighborhoods of Barrio Lastarria & Barrio Bellas Artes serve as charming lifestyle precincts worthy of in-depth exploration, beautifully tucked amidst the heavier historical neighborhoods.

Located just adjacent to the historical center, Barrio Lastarria has received an urban transformation into becoming a major cultural hub, offering cinemas, theaters, museums, restaurants, as well as bars-all while keeping its original Bohemian and intellectual flavor.

Further adjacent to that, travellers will then come across Barrio Bellas Artes. Born circa 1850s, Barrio Bellas Artes is now a bustling, funky neighborhood with restaurants and cafes amidst museums, galleries and historic architectures.

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

Located in the heart of the historic Barrio Lastarria, the Parroquia de la Vera Cruz is a small but architecturally significant church that stands as a testament to Santiago’s deep-rooted religious history. It was built between 1852 and 1855 on a site that, according to local tradition, was where the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia originally established his residence after founding the city. So significant is this church that there is an urban legend that much of Barrio Lastarria is actually built around this church! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).