Santiago is the capital city of the Republic of Chile, the country’s largest city by population and a centre of cultural, political, and economic activity.
Santiago was named the capital in 1818 after Chile declared its independence from the Spanish Empire. Despite its capital status, the legislative branch of the Chilean government, the National Congress of Chile, is based in the port city of Valparaiso, located some 100 kilometres (or 62 miles) to the northwest. Congress was moved there from the old National Congress Building in Santiago following the 1973 military coup d’état by Augusto Pinochet.
The Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago is the seat of the President of Chile and also houses some state ministries.
