National Museum of Fine Arts

The Palacio de Bellas Artes features a massive glass dome that anchors the center of the structure, framing the sky above the entrance hall. Built for the centennial of Chile’s independence in nineteen ten, the building was designed by French architect Emile Jéquier. He imported almost all the construction materials from Europe, including the iron framework from Belgium. While the construction was underway, a worker accidentally dropped a heavy steel beam that shattered the marble staircase, delaying the grand opening by several weeks.