Pérgola de las Flores

Pérgola de las Flores is a building with two connected sections housing roughly 50 shops that sell fresh flowers and floral arrangements every day. The structure sits beside the Mapocho River near Vega Central, Santiago's main market district.

The flower market began in the early 1900s in front of San Francisco Church before moving to its present location by the Mapocho River in 1948. The relocation made space for the city's expanding commercial activity in the center.

This market inspired an important Chilean theater production that brought the stories of flower vendors to the stage and gave them wider recognition. The connection between this working space and theater shows how ordinary people's lives became part of the country's artistic legacy.

Vendors start work early in the morning and close in the afternoon, so a visit before midday gives you the best selection and activity. The location is walkable and sits in a busy commercial area surrounded by other shops and services.

On days of mourning, vendors throw colored flower petals onto funeral processions of notable people passing by the market. This gesture is a local tradition that shows how the place is woven into the community's shared life.