The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is housed in one of Santiago's grandest buildings — a symmetrical Beaux-Arts palace with a spectacular skylit central hall that looks like a conservatory as much as a gallery. The collection focuses on Chilean art from the 18th century to the mid-20th century, with works by the major figures of Chilean painting and sculpture alongside some European and Latin American pieces.
The permanent collection is excellent and the temporary exhibitions are usually interesting. Admission is free for the permanent collection. The building sits in the Parque Forestal, a long narrow park along the Mapocho River that extends from the city centre to Barrio Bellavista — the walk from the museum through the park is one of the more pleasant in the city.