Santiago de Chile, the country's capital, is located in the center of Chile and because of its proximity to the Andes, snow-capped peaks are visible from any spot. It is a modern, clean, and rather bustling city but still offers a colonial atmosphere due to its architecture, streets and small squares.
The "Valle Central", a fruitful valley between the Coastal Range and Andes, has an extension of 500 kilometers / 310 miles from north to south and it has many exciting places worth visiting. Close to Santia- go on the eastern mountain side, several world-class ski resorts are available during the winter. On the seaside numerous attractive cities and charming towns; Viña del Mar with its precious gardens, the his- torical port city of Valparaiso or the tiny town Isla Negra are good examples. On the latter, Pablo Neruda - Nobel Prize winner and one of the greatest South American poets - lived most of his life in his house, now a museum.
The "La Campaña National Park", a reserve for one of the last remain- ing forests of the endangered Chilean Palm, is ideal for hiking and offers beautiful and interesting trails. The central region is also known for its wine valleys. Chilean wine is recognized internationally for its body and aroma, a perfect complement to the national cuisine. Some of the most famous vineyards are located between Santiago and Talca and are open to the public - some of the wineries offer lodging in their beautiful colonial guesthouses and hotels. read more...
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