Palacio Larraín Zañartu, Neoclassical palace in Santiago, Chile.
Palacio Larraín Zañartu is a neoclassical palace built in 1872 by French architect Lucien Hénault at the corner of Morandé and Compañía streets. Only its facade survives: the 1985 earthquake led to demolition, and the restored front now forms part of the Espacio M shopping centre opened on the site in 2011.
The plot belonged to the Aguirre family's entailed estate from 1744 and passed to the Larraíns when Josefa de Aguirre Boza e Irarrázaval married Martín Larraín Salas. José Ignacio Larraín Landa and Carolina Zañartu Larraín commissioned the 1872 palace from Lucien Hénault, and it became a meeting place for the monttvarista National Party. In 1902 the Larraín Zañartu heirs sold it to Agustín Edwards Mac-Clure, and it housed El Mercurio until December 1984.
The palace was a gathering place for Chilean politicians and business leaders during the 1800s. Its interior spaces reflected the wealth and status that defined Santiago's upper circles at that time.
The building sits downtown at Compañía 1214 and is easily accessible through the modern shopping center surrounding it. The classical facade can be viewed from the street, making it convenient to visit alongside other historic sites in central Santiago.
The 1985 Santiago earthquake destroyed much of the building, leaving only its facade standing. The preserved facade was integrated into the new shopping center built on the site and given protected status as a Historical-Artistic Property.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,796 contributors worldwide.