Flea Market Walking Tour

This journey through the Mercado de las Pulgas offers an opportunity to explore one of Latin America's most expansive commercial hubs. A significant symbol of Santiago de Chile is ready to be uncovered!

Tour Overview

We will convene at Franklin metro station at the scheduled time to commence our adventure through the Mercado de las Pulgas and its vibrant surroundings.

Our first stop will be the historic Santiago slaughterhouse, now a bustling marketplace infused with energy and a wide array of fresh products. This site has roots dating back to 1847, a time when the slaughterhouse was established alongside the development of the Barrio Franklin.

As we stroll through the neighborhood, we will encounter the renowned conventillos and gain insights into their significance in the community's narrative. The slaughterhouse witnessed a decline in the 1970s when operations moved to a different area of the city. We will traverse the old premises, which have now been revitalized into a vibrant market offering fish, produce, meat, and a variety of other fresh items.

After exploring the diverse vendors at the Mercado Matadero Franklin, our journey will lead us to Barrio Huemul I, along with its adjacent areas Huemul II and Huemul III, known for their working-class roots. We’ll pause to admire two noteworthy structures: the Teatro Huemul and the Caja de Ahorros, the latter of which was constructed in the early 20th century using the finest materials of its time, still exuding the grace and grandeur of that period.

As we navigate through Barrio Huemul, we will discover numerous galpones—street stalls filled with antiques, furniture, and technological items, all vying for attention from potential buyers. Additionally, we’ll delve into tales about the area’s haunted sanatorium, a place shrouded in mystery that straddles the line between folklore and reality.

Our exploration will conclude after 2.5 hours of engaging experiences, culminating at Parque Víctor Jara, where we will reflect briefly on the legacy of this esteemed figure in Chilean folk music.