Chile's presidential offices are in the Palacio de la Moneda. The ornate neoclassical building was designed by Italian architect JoaquÃn Toesca in the late 18th century and was originally the official mint. The inner courtyards are generally open to the public; schedule a guided tour by filling out the online form a few days in advance.
The north facade was badly damaged by air-force missile attacks during the 1973 military coup when President Salvador Allende – who refused to leave – was overthrown here. A monument honoring Allende now stands opposite in Plaza de la Constitución.