Parque de Los Reyes Antiques
Avda Brasil 1157
About
At the end of Avenida Brasil, long after all the bars and most of the places to eat have petered out, and right before you cross the bark that flanks the river, is a giant old hangar built (like the Estación Mapocho) by Eiffel, with an exposed iron skeleton visible from the inside. And inside, are more than 150 small (mostly) mom-and-pop shops selling antiques from Chile and abroad. Therea are vendors that specialize in fine china, in glass, in outdated electronics like antique radios and turntables, wooden furniture, upholstered chairs, giant wardrobes, and sets of spurs, which Chileans often purchase to hang in their country homes, or bring to relatives living outside of Chile. Many of the owners are experts in what they collect, and can give advice on completing sets and repair, as well as give you the provenance of what you're looking at, though you'll do better if you already have an idea yourself. The galpón, or hangar, once used as part of a trainyard, has been in operation as an antiques mall since the 1980s, and is open 365 days of the year. Its most bustling days are the weekends, and, like in much of the rest of Santiago, the colder and rainier it is, the less action you'll find.
