Quinta Normal Park, Santiago

The creation of this marvelous park started in 1841, when this land was still outside the boundaries of Santiago. Now, it is in the heart of an old residential neighborhood. The aim was to acclimatize foreign plant species and increase their reproduction, task given to French naturalist Claudio Gay, its first director. In 1875, construction of the neoclassical building started, which today houses the Natural History Museum. Also, paths were drawn and a lake was built to add to the visitors' enjoyment. Nowadays, Quinta Normal has 40 forested hectares with a great variety of trees and has been declared a nature sanctuary. The Science and Technology Museum and the Railway Museum are also located on its grounds. There are many sporting facilities and a spectacular little lake ideal for paddleboats. The park is quite busy on the weekends, and often frequented by locals, particularly families.