The Palacio de La Moneda (the mint) is currently the residence of the President of the Republic of Chile. Also in the building are the offices of some members of the Cabinet and the General Secretariat of the government of Chile. The Palacio de La Moneda occupies an entire block in the city centre of pilgrimage footpath.

The project of the building of the Palacio de La Moneda was designed by Italian architect joaquín Toesca. Its construction lasted from 1784 to 1805. Building materials came from different areas of Chile: limestone from the estate Polpaico; sand from river Maipo; red stones from the quarry on Cerro San Cristobal in Santiago; the white stone from the nearby Cerro Blanco; the oak and the cypress came from Valdivia; Spanish metal came from Vizcaya. Twenty varieties of brick produced in Santiago for the construction of bridges, floors, walls over a meter thick.

Architect Joaquin Toesca died in 1799 without seeing the completion of the construction of the Palacio de La Moneda. To finalize the project and to monitor the construction of the Palace of La Moneda had military engineer Augustine, Cavallero.

The first coin production in Chile was held at La Moneda in 1814 and continued to 1929. In June 1845 the Palacio de La Moneda becomes the presidential residence.

During the coup in Chile on 11 September 1973 military shelled the Palace of La Moneda. The restoration of the Palacio de La Moneda was only completed in March 1981. Although some traces of that terrible time can be seen in our days: during the reign of Augusto Pinochet was held on the construction of an underground office complex of the President (bunkers) under a square so that the President could safely leave the walls of the Palacio de La Moneda in case of an attack.

On odd days at 10 a.m. you can watch the changing of the guard at the Palacio de La Moneda.