Santiago means "St. James" in old Spanish, and was named for Santiago de Compostela in Castille, by Pedro de Valdivia. Its location in the Central Valley of Chile was chosen because of its thriving vegetation and strategic defensive location. The city, alias "Sanhattan", was propelled to greatness by the economic boom the country underwent after the Pinochet dictatorship. Santiago, as "Greater Santiago", is an immense "conurbation" of several towns and communities that make it one of the largest world-wide. It is an extremely interesting city to visit, with many tourist attractions, and a mixture of old and new sights and places to enjoy.
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