Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral

Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral is a Catholic church at Plaza de Armas in the Santiago commune in Chile. Three naves organize the interior, which holds a main altar made of marble and numerous religious sculptures.

Construction of the current building, the fifth cathedral at this location, began in 1748 under Bishop Juan González Melgarejo. A fire had destroyed the earlier structure and made rebuilding necessary.

The church takes its name from Saint James the Apostle, Spain's patron saint, whose devotion came to Chile with the conquistadors. Below the floor lies a crypt where Santiago's archbishops rest, a visible sign of the Catholic faith's continuity since colonial times.

The church opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors should note the schedule, as the building is used for services and religious ceremonies.

The right side chapel preserves military memorabilia, including insignia of Chilean officers from the Battle of La Concepción and the wooden tombstone of the Carrera brothers. This unusual connection between church and military history reflects the building's role in national memory.