> Santiago is the capital of which country?And the answer: Chile.Photo credit: Shutterstock.With a population of 7 million people, Santiago isone of the largest cities in the Americas. Founded in 1541 by the Spanishconquistador Pedro de Valdivia, Santiago has been the capital city of Chilesince colonial times. The Andes Mountains can be seen from throughout the city.Photo courtesy: Britannica.comChile's capital is one of the only places in theworld that you can ski the Andes mountains and then spend sunset on the beach.This thriving metropolis has experienced a boom in recent decades, and has sincecome to represent the cultural heart of the nation and serve as its politicalcenter. Today, Santiago is one of Latin America's most modern cities. By the late 16th century, though, Santiago was just a settlement of about 200houses. It wasn't until much later – around the late 18th century – thatSantiago began to acquire the necessary infrastructure to become a proper city.In 1818, Santiago was named the capital of the country, which spurred anoutpouring of economic activity within its borders. While industry andmodernization has greatly changed the face of the city, remnants of its colonialpast can be seen in pockets such as the Palace of the Governors, theMetropolitan Cathedral, and various churches throughout the city. Some of the city's best views can be seen from the Parque Metropolitano, orbetter known as the Cerro San Cristóbal. This park tops the third highest peakin northern Santiago, and is the city's largest public park. Check out someviews from the hilltop below.Photo credit: Pakawat Thongcharo/Shutterstock.com.Photo credit: KLM.com[https://www.klm.com/destinations/us/en/article/the-best-view-of-santiago].