Rancagua

Chile

Rancagua, the capital of the O'Higgins regions, is a city just 87km (54 miles) south of Santiago. Its main economic activities are mining (El Teniente, just 40km to the east of the city, is the largest underground copper mine in the world) and agriculture. You may be surprised to know that quite a few people take the train from Rancagua every day to work in Santiago.

The area around Rancagua is famous for its Huasos (local Chilean "cowboys").

What to see and do in Rancagua

Museo Regional de Rancagua (Regional Museum)

The Regional Museum of Rancagua consists of two houses that date from the 18th century and that contain vestiges of the time of the founding of the town Santa Cruz de Triana which eventually became known as Rancagua. These two houses are...

Octagon House: Its style is an example of 18th century colonial urban architecture. Like many houses in the colonial period, its corners were cut to avoid horse-drawn carriages of the period hitting the adobe corner walls as they turned. The museum's permanent collection is organized in six rooms presenting different features of a 19th century home. One is a study, another a drawing room, there is a dining room, a room with religious imagery, and a room furnished in the style at the time of Chile's independence. This last room has objects and documents belonging to the founding of Chile.

House of the Corner Column: The oldest information of this property dates from 1780 when it belonged to the Inza family, who sold it to Don Fernando Errázuriz, who became the first Rancagua representative to the 1811 Congress. Temporary exhibits are normally held here. On the second floor, objects pertaining to regional history are exhibited.

If you found this guide about Rancagua, Chile interesting or useful, let others know about it.