Palacio Herquíñigo, 20th-century palace in Barrio República, Santiago, Chile

Palacio Herquíñigo stands at República Street 290, at the corner of Grajales Street in Santiago's Barrio República. Its continuous French-style facade carries canopies, iron gates and balconies. Inside are an imperial marble staircase, fine stained-glass windows, large halls and gardens.

Built in 1919 by architect Ricardo Larraín Bravo for businessman Alejandro Herquíñigo Gómez, the palace embodied the economic success of mining families during that era. It represented their rise and desire to establish European architectural standards in Chile.

The building's name comes from Alejandro Herquíñigo Gómez, whose family arrived from Vizcaya in the 18th century and made its fortune in commerce and later mining. The French-style facade with marquees, iron gates and balconies was meant to place the residence on the elegant Avenida de la República. Later the Mexican embassy and the Michelson drugstore occupied the site.

The building now operates as part of Universidad Nacional Andrés Bello with modern educational facilities and internet connectivity throughout. Visitors should know that the interior has been adapted for university use, though the original layout and structural elements remain visible.

The UNAB renovation also replaced the electrical installation to meet current regulations and added Wi-Fi 6 connectivity on every floor, plus equipment for high-quality projection in the classrooms. The building became known as UNAB's R10.