Palacio de La Moneda

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Front view of La Moneda

The Palacio de La Moneda (Spanish for "The Coin Palace") is the present seat of the President of the Republic of Chile. It is one of the most notable buildings constructed by the Spanish crown in its American colonies. It is located at the heart of the capital Santiago.

The Palacio de La Moneda, originally a colonial mint (moneda means coin), was designed by Italian architect Joaquín Toesca. Construction began in 1784 and was opened in 1805, while still under construction.

In June, 1845 during president Manuel Bulnes's administration, it became the seat of government and presidential residence. In 1930, a public square was built in front of the palace, the Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Square). It ceased to be the presidential residence after the presidency of Gabriel González Videla.

La Moneda was partially destroyed by aerial bombing during a military coup d'etat led by General Augusto Pinochet on September 11, 1973. President Salvador Allende died in the palace as it was under assault by the Armed Forces. Reconstruction and restoration projects were completed on March 11, 1981, although some bullet marks have been preserved and can still be seen nowadays. A bunker was built under the front square.

During his administration, President Ricardo Lagos decided to open the palace to the public. During certain hours of the day, people of all ages can cross the palace and walk through the courtyards. President Lagos also re-opened Morandé 80, which had been the gate by which the Chilean Presidents used to enter into the palace before the 1973 coup.

Today, La Moneda houses the offices of the President and three Cabinet ministers: Interior, General Secretariat of the Presidency and General Secretariat of the Government.

In November 2004, La Moneda was one of the venues in which the XII APEC Leaders' Meeting was held.

A new square called Plaza de la Ciudadanía (Citizenry Square) was constructed in La Moneda's southern front between late 2004 and early 2006. Two phases of the project are completed (a square between Alameda Ave. and La Moneda and a continuation of the square in the southern part of Alameda Ave.), with a third phase, which would lower the avenue to unite the two squares, still pending approval.