Alhue

Alhue sits in a valley closed by hills in the far south-west of the metropolitan region, and its isolation is why it kept a colonial character that most villages this close to Santiago lost: a plaza, adobe houses and the church of San Geronimo, whose fabric goes back to the eighteenth century and which holds colonial images. The name is Mapudungun and is usually translated as place of spirits. Over the ridge is the Florida mine, a modern gold operation that is the district's main employer and whose relationship with the village - water, traffic, jobs - is the local subject.

What you actually see

• A colonial village in a closed valley - adobe houses round a plaza.
• The church of San Geronimo - eighteenth century fabric and images.
• A name meaning place of spirits - from Mapudungun.
• A gold mine over the ridge - the district's main employer.

When to go

Year round. Half a day.

Honest expectations

The roads in are winding and slow for the distance. The village is very quiet with minimal services. The church opens on the parish schedule. Adobe buildings here suffered in the 2010 earthquake.

Nearby

Melipilla is north; Rapel lake is west.