Description of the attraction
The Palacio de La Moneda (mint) is currently the seat of the President of the Republic of Chile. Also in the building are the offices of some members of the Cabinet of Ministers and the General Secretariat of the Chilean government. The Palacio de La Moneda occupies an entire block in downtown Sagnago.
The Palacio de La Moneda building was designed by the Italian architect Joaquin Toesca. Its construction was carried out from 1784 to 1805. Building materials came from different parts of Chile: limestone - from the Polpaiko estate; sand - from the Maipo river; red stones from the Cerro San Cristobal quarry in Santiago; white stone - from nearby Cerro Blanco; oak and cypress came from Valdivia; Spanish metal came from Vizcaya. Twenty types of bricks were made in Santiago for the construction of lintels, floors, walls over a meter thick.
Architect Joaquin Toyesca died in 1799 without seeing the completion of the Palacio de La Moneda. The military engineer Augustin Cavallero had to complete the work on the project and supervise the construction of the La Moneda Palace.
The first coin production in Chile took place in La Moneda in 1814 and continued until 1929. Since June 1845, the Palacio de La Moneda becomes the presidential residence.
During the September 11, 1973 coup in Chile, the military fired at the La Moneda Palace. The restoration of the Palacio de La Moneda was completed only in March 1981. Although, some traces of that terrible time can be seen today: during the reign of Augusto Pinochet, the construction of the president's underground office complex (bunker) was carried out under part of the square, so that the president could safely leave the walls of the Palacio de la Moneda in case attacks.
On odd days at 10 am you can watch the changing of the guard at the Palacio de La Moneda.
