Plaza Brasil, Santiago

Plaza Brasil lies right in the centre of one of the city's most attractive neighbourhoods which, up until the mid-twentieth century, was quite an elegant residential area. It was around this time that many of the local well-to-do families started to move out, attracted by the new residential areas springing up on the eastern flank of the city (Las Condes, Vitacura, etc.); and although the new local residents made constant use of the plaza's leafy environs, the lack of proper care and maintenance did start to show. However, the local neighbourhood and especially the Plaza Brasil, received an invigorating boost when all sorts of artistic and academic activities started to move into the area, creating a bohemian environment which also saw the recuperation of many public spaces. The plaza is now adorned with a highly colourful and imaginative play area, extremely popular every afternoon and evening among local children, around whom mingle a fairly libertine crowd attracted by near-by arts centres, university faculties, dance schools, cafes and restaurants.