Cementerio General

The Cementerio General de Santiago is located in the Recoleta district, north of the Mapocho river, on Avenida Profesora Zanartu. It was founded in 1821 under the government of Bernardo O'Higgins to replace the colonial practice of burial in church grounds, a public health reform linked to the new republic. Over two centuries it has grown into one of the largest cemeteries in Latin America, holding more than a million burials across about 85 hectares.

The grounds are laid out in avenues of trees and mausoleums, with architecture ranging from neoclassical and Gothic revival to Art Deco and modern styles. Wealthy families built monumental tombs, often modelled on chapels or small temples, while public sectors hold simple graves. Notable burials include presidents such as Jose Manuel Balmaceda and Salvador Allende, whose remains were reinterred there in 1990, as well as singer-songwriter Victor Jara, poet Vicente Huidobro and many other cultural and political figures.

A key site is the Memorial del Detenido Desaparecido y del Ejecutado Politico, a long wall inscribed with the names of thousands of victims of the 1973 to 1990 dictatorship, which opened in 1994. The cemetery also includes a section for the Patio 29, where unidentified victims were buried during the regime, and the area has been the focus of forensic work. The cemetery's heritage value has been recognised through its declaration as a national monument.

Today the site is open to the public, and guided tours, including thematic walks on art, architecture and memory, are offered by the Corporacion de Patrimonio and municipal programmes. Visitors should treat it as an active burial ground, and the large size makes a map or guided tour valuable. The nearby Metro stations Cementerios on Line 2 provide the easiest access.