ABSTRACT
Santiago de Extremadura, as it was named by its founder Pedro de Valdivia in 1541, was originally located on an island formed by two branches of the Mapocho river, providing water and protection, in the most fertile and temperate area of the country. Over the centuries, Chile’s political, cultural, social and economic development has been intrinsically linked with its capital, Santiago de Chile, now home to almost 5.5 million people.
