Santiago was originally populated by the Indians. The Spaniards then came and colonized the land. The founder of the city was Conquistador Pedro de Valdvia. Santiago was named the capital of the republic in 1818. The wealth of the nation then flowed to Santiago. The architectural remnants of the Spaniards include the Mint, the Palace of the Governors, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Consulate Tribunal, and the churches of San Francisco, Santo Domingo, Recoleta Franciscan, and La Merced.