CLASS DIVISION IN SANTIAGO, building bridges to break down class divisions

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In Santiago when you pass over to the other side of the river Mapocho, you go to La Chimba, which in Quechuan means the other side. The river separated two class divisions in the colonical area – the upper class lived on one side and the lower class lived on the other. The richer side was the part colonised by the Spanish and on which all the government buildings were built and all the jails, cemeteries, mental institutions and anything that people felt uncomfortable with were built on the Chimba.

BUILDING BRIDGES TO BREAK DOWN CLASS DIVISIONS

A man called Zanartu who became well known for his breaking down of class divisions organised the building of the bridge across the river so people could cross. He recruited prisoners to build the bridge as part of their community service, he then passed a law stating that it would be illal (a law which still stands strong today) to be found drunk in the street in order to create even more prisoners and therefore to create more people who would be obliged to work on the bridge.

INFORMATION FROM THE GUIDE OF THE OFF-BEAT WALKING TOUR

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