Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile, Neoclassical university building on Alameda avenue, Santiago, Chile
Casa Central is a neoclassical university building on Alameda avenue in Santiago that contains two central courtyards named after Ignacio Domeyko and Andrés Bello. These courtyards are connected by corridors leading to administrative offices, the rectorate, and historical archives.
Construction began in 1863 under architect Lucien Henault and builder Fermín Vivaceta, marking the first multi-story structure on Alameda avenue. The building became the center of Chile's national university and continues to define the city's historical architecture.
The Salon de Honor with its Doric columns serves as a multi-level auditorium where academic ceremonies and university events take place. This space reflects the formal character that marks important institutional moments.
The building is centrally located and easily reached on foot, with the rectorate and various administrative areas inside. Visitors should note that some areas are only accessible with permission, especially during academic events.
A Clemens Riefler clock from Munich installed on the facade in 1929 has marked time for more than 90 years for generations of students and faculty. This German-made timepiece is a quiet testimony to the university's international connections.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
