The park where locals go to escape the city.

Santiago can be a very hectic place, but if you want to get away from it all, there is no better place than Cerro Santa Lucia. Come on, let's go. It is about 20 minutes to get to the top, and for you non-athletic types, you can take an elevator. Cerro Santa Lucia is a lush park that is filled with historical buildings, monuments and fountains. Right here is the Magic Fountain, or Fuenta Magica, which you can see as you enter the park from the Alameda side. There are many ways to get to the top, but the Alameda is the most beautiful and the most difficult.

Castillo Hidalgo was built in the 19th century and these days is a popular place for weddings. It is now run by a private company, so it is closed to the public. But you can admire the beautiful architecture from the outside. This spot is said to be where the Spanish conquerer, Don Pedro de Valdivia, found the city of Santiago. When you are here, in Cerro Santa Lucia, pay attention because some of the trees have their name written on them and it is a great place to learn about Chilean plant life. Initially the hill was the city's lookout point for defense, but in those days it was not as green as it is today.

The turning point came in the late 19th century when several hundred prisoners were assigned to turn the hill into the beautiful green park we see today. This is a statue of mapuche Caupolican to commemorate the fight of the indiginious people against the Spanish conquerers. Everyday at noon a cannon strikes 12:00 from here, at Cerro Santa Lucia. It can be heard throughout Santiago. The first archbishop of Chile is buried right here, in Cerro Santa Lucia. Behind me is Cerro San Cristobal. And all around us are the mountains, but you cannot see them because of the smog in the summertime. It is best to visit the park during the day for safety reasons. I am Helia Goodman, showing you Santiago.